JP5780699B2 - Image forming apparatus, request distribution method, request distribution program, and request distribution system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that distributes requests, a request distribution method, a request distribution program, and a request distribution system.

  For example, in an office or the like, a device that receives a request from a PC (personal computer) or the like and performs some processing (for example, an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral or a printer) is installed. When there are multiple image forming apparatuses on the same floor, the user can check the function of each image forming apparatus (whether color printing or stapling is possible) and the state of the image forming apparatus (in use, remaining amount of paper or toner). Is selected as appropriate.

  However, it is not easy for the user to grasp the function of each image forming apparatus and the state of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the user desires that an appropriate image forming apparatus is automatically selected without knowing the function of each image forming apparatus and the state of the image forming apparatus.

  In the case where there are image forming apparatuses A and B having the same function, a technique for transferring a job to the image forming apparatus B using a dedicated communication protocol when the sheet of the image forming apparatus A runs out is already known. In addition, when printing through an external print server device, there is already known a technique in which the print server device automatically switches the image forming apparatus.

  Patent Document 1 describes that the functions of each digital multi-function peripheral are selectively combined with the functions of other digital multi-function peripherals existing on the network to perform function cooperation.

  However, the technology for automatically switching the image forming apparatus by an external print server device requires a dedicated server, which increases the cost. In addition, a technique for transferring a job between image forming apparatuses using a dedicated communication protocol is such that an image forming apparatus that has received print data from a PC or the like operated by a user sends print data to the image forming apparatus that takes over the print job. There has been a problem that the communication procedure becomes complicated because it has to be redistributed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, an image forming apparatus capable of simplifying the communication procedure for distributing requests received in appropriate image forming apparatus, request distribution method, the request distribution program and request distribution system The purpose is to provide.

To solve the above problem, an image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus for performing a process in response to the received request, necessary for the function and processing of the image forming apparatus required for processing the request received from the terminal Extraction using condition extraction means for extracting the state of the image forming apparatus including information on the type of paper, the amount of paper, and the amount of ink , and a function information database for managing the function information of itself and other image forming apparatuses A device selecting unit for selecting an image forming apparatus suitable for the state of the image forming apparatus including information on the function of the image forming apparatus necessary for the processed processing and the type of paper, the amount of paper, and the amount of ink required for the extracted processing ; , and a sorting means for distributing a request received from the terminal to the selected image forming apparatus, the functional information, function and type of paper of the image forming apparatus of the own, the amount of paper, ink State of the image forming apparatus including the information, and, be information indicating the state of the image forming apparatus including features and type of paper of the other image forming apparatus, the amount of paper, the information amount of ink .

  In addition, what applied the component, expression, or arbitrary combination of the component of this invention to a method, an apparatus, a system, a computer program, a recording medium, a data structure, etc. is also effective as an aspect of this invention.

According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus capable of simplifying the communication procedure for distributing the received request to the appropriate image forming apparatus, request distribution method, it is possible to provide the required distribution program and request distribution system.

It is a block diagram of an example of a request distribution system. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an example of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a software configuration diagram of an example of an image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a software block diagram of an example showing the detail of a certain application and the network control part. It is a sequence diagram which shows an example of the function information collection sequence of an apparatus. It is a data block diagram of an example of the response of a GetPrinterElements command. It is a block diagram of an example of function information DB of an apparatus. It is a sequence diagram which shows an example of the data transfer sequence of an apparatus. It is a sequence diagram which shows the other example of the data transfer sequence of an apparatus.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described based on the following embodiments with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an image forming apparatus is described as an example of a device that receives a request from a PC operated by the user and performs some processing. However, the request is received from the PC operated by the user and performs some processing. Any device may be used.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of a request distribution system. In the request distribution system 1 of FIG. 1, image forming apparatuses 2A to 2D and PCs 3A to 3C are connected via a network 4 such as a LAN (local area network) or the Internet. In addition, when any of the image forming apparatuses 2 </ b> A to 2 </ b> D may be used, the image forming apparatuses 2 are collectively referred to. When any of PC3A-3C is sufficient, it is named PC3 generically.

  In the request distribution system 1 of FIG. 1, an example of four image forming apparatuses 2 is shown. Further, in the request distribution system 1 of FIG. 1, an example in which there are three PCs 3 is shown, but one or more PCs may be used. The image forming apparatus 2 is an example of a device having an image forming function, such as a multifunction peripheral or a printer. The PC 3 is an example of a terminal operated by a user.

  In the request distribution system 1 in FIG. 1, the user operates the PC 3 to make a print request, for example, to the image forming apparatus 2. The image forming apparatus 2 that has received the print request from the PC 3 refers to the print request and distributes the print request to an appropriate image forming apparatus 2 as described later. The distribution of print requests performed by the image forming apparatus 2 includes distribution to other image forming apparatuses 2 as well as distribution to its own image forming function.

  That is, the image forming apparatus 2 selects a print request distribution destination received from the PC 3 as a router of a network device from the print conditions in the print request and the function of each image forming apparatus 2, thereby simplifying the print request. The communication procedure is assigned to an appropriate image forming apparatus 2.

  FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an example of the image forming apparatus. 2 represents an example of a multifunction peripheral. In the image forming apparatus 2 of FIG. 2, the operation panel 11, the storage medium I / F 12, the controller 13, the data communication I / F 14, the scanner 15, the plotter 16, and the HDD (hard disk drive) 17 are connected to each other. It is configured.

  The operation panel 11 has an input device 11a and a display device 11b. The input device 11a includes hardware keys and is used for inputting various operation signals to the image forming apparatus 2. Further, the display device 11b is configured by a display or the like, and displays, for example, various types of information related to the image forming operation.

  The data communication I / F 14 includes an interface device 14a, and is an interface that connects the image forming apparatus 2 to a network that is a data transmission path, an external device, or the like. The HDD 17 stores various data such as read image data handled by the image forming apparatus 2.

  Various data stored in the HDD 17 includes electronic data recorded by an external device such as a digital camera, for example. The electronic data is provided to the image forming apparatus 2 by a recording medium 12b such as a memory card or uploaded via a network or the like that is a data transmission path. The recording medium 12b is set in the drive device 12a included in the storage medium I / F 12, and various data are stored in the HDD 17 from the recording medium 12b via the drive device 12a.

  The controller 13 includes a ROM (read only memory) 13a, a RAM (random access memory) 13b, a CPU (central processing unit) 13c, and an NVRAM (nonvolatile memory) 13d.

  The ROM 13a stores programs executed when the image forming apparatus 2 is activated and various data. The RAM 13b temporarily holds various programs and data read from the ROM 13a and the HDD 17. The CPU 13c executes a program temporarily stored in the RAM 13b. The NVRAM 13d stores data that needs to be protected because the data does not disappear even when the image forming apparatus 2 is turned off.

  The scanner 15 includes an image reading device 15a, and optically reads a document placed on a reading surface and generates image data. The plotter 16 has a printing device 16a, and prints a bitmap image on a recording sheet by, for example, an electrophotographic process method. In the image forming apparatus 2, a plurality of functions such as copying, printer, facsimile, or scanner can be realized by the above-described hardware configuration.

  FIG. 3 is a software configuration diagram of an example of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus 2 includes an application unit 20, a platform unit 21, a SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) / XML (Extensible Markup Language) processing unit 22, and an OS / kernel unit 23.

  The programs of the application unit 20 and the platform unit 21 are executed in parallel by the OS / kernel unit 23 in units of processes. The application unit 20 includes applications such as a copy application 31, a fax application 32, a scanner application 33, a net file application 34, and a printer application 35. The platform unit 21 includes a system control unit 41, a memory control unit 42, an engine control unit 43, a security control unit 44, a distribution control unit 45, an operation control unit 46, a network control unit 47, and a fax control unit 48.

  The system control unit 41 performs control related to system management. The memory control unit 42 controls the memory and the HDD 17. The engine control unit 43 controls the scanner 15 and the plotter 16. The security control unit 44 performs control related to authentication processing and billing processing. The distribution control unit 45 performs control related to distribution processing of various data stored in the HDD 17, for example. The operation control unit 46 performs control related to the operation panel 11. The network control unit 47 mediates data communication. The fax control unit 48 provides a fax API.

  The SOAP / XML processing unit 22 is a library that performs processing related to SOAP and XML. XML is one of markup languages for describing the meaning and structure of documents and data. SOAP is a protocol for calling data and Web services in other image forming apparatuses 2 based on XML. The SOAP / XML processing unit 22 performs processing for linking Web services of the image forming apparatus 2 together.

  In the image forming apparatus 2, after the OS / kernel unit 23 is activated, the application unit 20 and the platform unit 21 are activated. These programs are stored in the HDD 17, the ROM 13a, etc., are reproduced from the HDD 17, the ROM 13a, etc., and are activated in the RAM 13b.

  FIG. 4 is an exemplary software configuration diagram showing details of an application and a network control unit. In FIG. 4, a part of the configuration unnecessary for the description of the present embodiment is omitted. FIG. 4 shows a copy application 31 as a certain application.

  The copy application 31 includes an overall control unit 51, an event detection unit 52, and a communication unit 53 with another application / other control unit. The network control unit 47 includes an overall control unit 61, a function management unit 62 of an external device, a Web service eventing (WS-Eventing) processing unit 63, an event management unit 64, a communication unit 65 with another application / other control unit, a network A communication processing unit 66, an HTTP control unit 67, and an XML processing unit 68 are provided.

  The overall control unit 51 of the copy application 31 performs control related to the entire copy application 31. The event detection unit 52 detects an event that occurs in the copy application 31. A communication unit 53 with another application / other control unit performs data communication with another application / other control unit.

  The overall control unit 61 of the network control unit 47 performs control related to the entire network control unit 47. The function management unit 62 of the external device manages the function of each image forming apparatus 2. The function management unit 62 of the external device collects device information from each image forming apparatus 2 based on a device function information collection sequence described later. The web service eventing processing unit 63 uses the SOAP / XML processing unit 22 to perform processing related to the web service. The event management unit 64 manages various events. The communication unit 65 with another application / other control unit performs data communication with the other application / other control unit.

  The network communication processing unit 66 performs processing related to data communication with other image forming apparatuses 2 and the PC 3. When receiving a request as an event from the PC 3, the network communication processing unit 66 distributes the request to an appropriate image forming apparatus 2 based on a data transfer sequence of a device described later. The HTTP control unit 67 performs control related to HTTP. The XML processing unit 68 performs processing related to XML.

  The function management unit 62 of the external device uses the web service eventing processing unit 63 to collect device information from each image forming apparatus 2 based on the device function information collection sequence as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a function information collection sequence of devices. FIG. 5 shows a function information collection sequence of a device in which the image forming apparatus 2A acquires function information of the image forming apparatuses 2B to 2D.

  In step S1, the function management unit 62 of the external device of the image forming apparatus 2A uses the web service eventing processing unit 63 to issue a GetPrinterElements command to the image forming apparatus 2B.

  In step S2, the network communication processing unit 66 of the image forming apparatus 2B receives the GetPrinterElements command from the image forming apparatus 2A. Based on the GetPrinterElements command from the image forming apparatus 2A, the Web service eventing processing unit 63 of the image forming apparatus 2B collects function information of devices in the own apparatus.

  The Web service eventing processing unit 63 of the image forming apparatus 2B notifies the image forming apparatus 2A of the collected function information of the device in its own apparatus by a response (Response) of the GetPrinterElements command.

  FIG. 6 is a data configuration diagram of an example of a response to the GetPrinterElements command. The data configuration diagram of FIG. 6 includes a portion 71 representing the function of the image forming apparatus 2B (whether color printing is possible, etc.) and a portion 72 representing the state of the image forming apparatus (remaining amount of toner, etc.). In the portion 71 representing the function of the image forming apparatus 2B, usable finisher information such as whether or not to allow color printing, name, printing speed, Punch (staple) or Staple (staple) is expressed in XML format data. In the portion 72 representing the state of the image forming apparatus 2B, information on the type and remaining amount of paper that can be used and the remaining amount of ink is expressed in XML format data. The network communication processing unit 66 of the image forming apparatus 2A receives the response of the GetPrinterElements command from the image forming apparatus 2B.

  Based on the response of the GetPrinterElements command from the image forming apparatus 2B, the Web service eventing processing unit 63 of the image forming apparatus 2A acquires the function information of the device of the image forming apparatus 2B and notifies the function management unit 62 of the external device. The function management unit 62 of the external device stores the device function information of the image forming apparatus 2B in the device function information DB.

  Proceeding to steps S3 and S4, the image forming apparatus 2A acquires the function information of the device of the image forming apparatus 2C and stores it in the function information DB 70 of the device, as in steps S1 and S2. Proceeding to steps S5 and S6, the image forming apparatus 2A acquires the function information of the device of the image forming apparatus 2D and stores it in the function information DB 70 of the device as in steps S1 and S2.

  The GetPrinterElements command in steps S1, S3, and S5 is an extension of the command for the PC 3 to know the function of the image forming apparatus 2. The PC 3 issues a GetPrinterElements command to the image forming apparatus 2 by unicast. Therefore, the GetPrinterElements command in steps S1, S3, and S5 is also issued by unicast.

  For example, the image forming apparatus 2A can issue a GetPrinterElements command by unicast by knowing the existence of the other image forming apparatuses 2B to 2D by using a hello command or the like. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 2A can collect the function information of the devices of the other image forming apparatuses 2 existing in the same segment, and generate the function information DB 70 of the device as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of an example of the function information DB of the device. The device function information DB 70 in FIG. 7 stores device function information of the image forming apparatuses 2A to 2D. The device function information stored in the device function information DB 70 of FIG. 7 includes MAC address, IP address, printing speed (monochrome), printing speed (color), paper and remaining amount, ink remaining amount, punch (punch). , Staple information.

  The MAC address and IP address are information necessary for data communication. Printing speed (monochrome), printing speed (color), punch (punch), and staple (staple) represent functions of the image forming apparatus 2. The sheet, remaining amount, and remaining ink amount represent the state of the image forming apparatus 2. The device function information DB 70 also manages the device function information of itself (the image forming device 2A) so that it can be easily compared with the device function information of the other image forming devices 2B to 2D.

  The image forming apparatus 2 expands and uses commands for the PC 3 to know the functions of the image forming apparatus 2, thereby easily using the data in the XML format without using a dedicated protocol. Device function information can be collected and a device function information DB 70 can be generated. By using the device function information DB 70 as shown in FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus 2 can automatically transfer (sort) requests (jobs) to and from other image forming apparatuses 2.

  For example, when the network communication processing unit 66 receives a print request from the PC 3A, the network communication processing unit 66 distributes the print request to the appropriate image forming apparatus 2 based on the data transfer sequence of the device as illustrated in FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a data transfer sequence of the device. FIG. 8 shows a data transfer sequence of a device in which the image forming apparatus 2A receives a print request from the PC 3A. FIG. 8 shows an example using the WSD (Web services on devices) protocol. The WSD protocol defines a procedure for easily connecting and using various devices connected to the network 4.

  In step S11, the PC 3A transmits a print request (Create Print Job) to the image forming apparatus 2A. Upon receiving a print request from the PC 3A, the network communication processing unit 66 of the image forming apparatus 2A proceeds to step S12, interprets the received print request, and extracts print conditions from the received print request. The printing conditions are functions and states of the image forming apparatus 2 that are necessary for processing related to a print request.

  In step S13, the network communication processing unit 66 requests the function management unit 62 of the external device to select a device based on the extracted printing conditions. In step S14, the function management unit 62 of the external device refers to the function information DB 70 of the device based on the print condition, and selects the image forming apparatus 2 suitable for the print condition. Note that the process of selecting the image forming apparatus 2 suitable for the printing conditions can be performed by an existing technique, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  In step S15, the function management unit 62 of the external device notifies the network communication processing unit 66 of the image forming apparatus 2 selected in step S14 as a selection result. When notified of the selection result, the network communication processing unit 66 proceeds to step S16, and determines a route for distributing the print request.

  When the selected image forming apparatus 2 is not the own apparatus but is, for example, the image forming apparatus 2D, the network communication processing unit 66 sets a transfer route for distributing the print request to the image forming apparatus 2D. When the selected image forming apparatus 2 is the own apparatus, the network communication processing unit 66 sets a transfer route for distributing the print request to the printing function of the own apparatus. The function information DB 70 of the device is used for setting the transfer route. In step S17, the network communication processing unit 66 generates a routing table 80 including the set transfer route.

  In step S18, the network communication processing unit 66 refers to the routing table 80 and transfers the print request from the PC 3A to the image forming apparatus 2D according to the transfer route set in step S17. After setting the transfer route, the network communication processing unit 66 transfers the print request to the image forming apparatus 2D so that the network hub distributes the print request to an appropriate port without modifying the print request.

  In step S19, the image forming apparatus 2D sends a print request response to the image forming apparatus 2A. In step S20, the network communication processing unit 66 of the image forming apparatus 2A refers to the routing table 80 and transfers the print request response from the image forming apparatus 2D to the PC 3A according to the transfer route set in step S17.

  In step S21, the PC 3A transmits print data (Send Document) to the image forming apparatus 2D that is the original transmission source of the print request response in step S20. The PC 3A can acquire information necessary for data communication with the image forming apparatus 2D from the print request response in step S20. In step S22, the image forming apparatus 2D sends a state change notification to the PC 3A that is the transmission source of the print data transmission in step S21.

  In step S23, the PC 3A sends a state change notification response to the image forming apparatus 2D that is the transmission source of the state change notification in step S22. In step S24, the image forming apparatus 2D sends a print data transmission response to the PC 3A that is the transmission source of the print data transmission in step S21. In step S25, the network communication processing unit 66 of the image forming apparatus 2A deletes the routing table 80 generated in step S17.

  As described above, according to the data transfer sequence of the device shown in FIG. 8, the print request made by the PC 3A to the image forming apparatus 2A is distributed to the image forming apparatus 2D. Note that it is conceivable to notify the image forming apparatus 2 to which the printing result is output to the PC 3A by using, for example, an extended area of a state change notification.

  In the case of a protocol other than the WSD protocol, such as the DirectPrint protocol, in which the print request and the print data are not separated, the data transfer sequence of the device is as shown in FIG. For example, when the network communication processing unit 66 receives a print request + print data from the PC 3A, the network communication processing unit 66 distributes the print request to an appropriate image forming apparatus 2 based on the data transfer sequence of the device as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing another example of the data transfer sequence of the device. FIG. 9 shows a data transfer sequence of a device in which the image forming apparatus 2A receives a print request + print data from the PC 3A. FIG. 9 shows an example in which a protocol other than the WSD protocol is used and a print request and print data are not separated.

  In step S31, the PC 3A transmits a print request + print data to the image forming apparatus 2A. Upon receiving the print request + print data from the PC 3A, the network communication processing unit 66 of the image forming apparatus 2A proceeds to step S32, interprets the received print request, and extracts the print conditions from the received print request.

  In step S33, the network communication processing unit 66 requests the function management unit 62 of the external device to select a device based on the extracted printing conditions. In step S 34, the function management unit 62 of the external device refers to the function information DB 70 of the device based on the print condition, and selects the image forming apparatus 2 suitable for the print condition. Note that the process of selecting the image forming apparatus 2 suitable for the printing conditions can be performed by an existing technique, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  In step S35, the function management unit 62 of the external device notifies the network communication processing unit 66 of the image forming apparatus 2 selected in step S34 as a selection result. When notified of the selection result, the network communication processing unit 66 proceeds to step S36, and determines a route for distributing the print request + print data.

  When the selected image forming apparatus 2 is not its own apparatus, for example, the image forming apparatus 2D, the network communication processing unit 66 sets a transfer route for distributing the print request + print data to the image forming apparatus 2D. When the selected image forming apparatus 2 is the own apparatus, the network communication processing unit 66 sets a transfer route for distributing the print request + print data to the print function of the own apparatus. The function information DB 70 of the device is used for setting the transfer route. In step S37, the network communication processing unit 66 generates a routing table 80 including the set transfer route.

  In step S38, the network communication processing unit 66 refers to the routing table 80 and transmits the print request + print data from the PC 3A to the image forming apparatus 2D according to the transfer route set in step S37. After setting the transfer route, the network communication processing unit 66 transfers the print request + print data to the image forming apparatus 2D so that the network hub distributes it to an appropriate port without modifying the print request + print data.

  In step S39, the image forming apparatus 2D sends a print request response to the image forming apparatus 2A. In step S40, the network communication processing unit 66 of the image forming apparatus 2A refers to the routing table 80 and transfers the print request response from the image forming apparatus 2D to the PC 3A according to the transfer route set in step S37. In step S41, the network communication processing unit 66 of the image forming apparatus 2A deletes the routing table 80 generated in step S37.

  As described above, according to the data transfer sequence of the apparatus shown in FIG. 9, the print request + print data made by the PC 3A to the image forming apparatus 2A is distributed to the image forming apparatus 2D.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, after referring to the device function information DB 70 based on the printing conditions in the printing request and selecting the image forming apparatus 2 suitable for the printing conditions, the printing request is transferred without modification. Therefore, the communication procedure for distributing print requests can be simplified. By simplifying the communication procedure for distributing print requests, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the load on the network 4 and improve the communication speed.

  The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

1 Request distribution system 2, 2A-2D Image forming device 3, 3A-3C PC
4 Network 11 Operation Panel 11a Input Device 11b Display Device 12 Storage Media I / F
12a Drive device 12b Recording medium 13 Controller 13a ROM
13b RAM
13c CPU
13d NVRAM
14 Data communication I / F
14a Interface device 15 Scanner 15a Image reading device 16 Plotter 16a Printing device 17 HDD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Application part 21 Platform part 22 SOAP / XML processing part 23 OS / kernel part 31 Copy application 32 Fax application 33 Scanner application 34 Net file application 35 Printer application 41 System control part 42 Memory control part 43 Engine control part 44 Security control part 45 Distribution control unit 46 Operation control unit 47 Network control unit 48 Fax control unit 51 Overall control unit 52 Event detection unit 53 Communication unit with other application / other control unit 61 Overall control unit 62 Function management unit of external device 63 Web service eventing Processing unit 64 Event management unit 65 Communication unit with other application / other control unit 66 Network communication processing unit 67 HTTP control unit 68 XML processing unit 70 Device function information DB
71 A part representing the function of the image forming apparatus 72 A part representing the state of the image forming apparatus 80 Routing table

JP 2008-199576 A

Claims (7)

An image forming apparatus that performs processing in response to a received request,
Condition extraction means for extracting the state of the image forming apparatus including information on the function of the image forming apparatus necessary for processing and the type of paper necessary for processing, the amount of paper, and the amount of ink from the request received from the terminal;
With itself and function information database for managing function information of the other image forming apparatus, function and type of paper required for the extracted process of the image forming apparatus necessary for the extracted process, the amount of paper, ink amount Device selection means for selecting an image forming apparatus suitable for the state of the image forming apparatus including the information of
A distribution unit that distributes the request received from the terminal to the selected image forming apparatus ;
With
The function information includes the function of the image forming apparatus and the type of the sheet, the state of the image forming apparatus including information on the amount of the sheet and the amount of ink , the function of the other image forming apparatus and the type of sheet, and the sheet. amount, the image forming apparatus, characterized in that the information representing the state of the image forming apparatus including the information of the ink amount. The own image forming apparatus recognizes the existence of the other image forming apparatus ,
Request function information from the recognized other image forming apparatus ,
The function information of the other image forming apparatus is received in response to the request,
Function information and the received said another further image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a function information database generating means for generating the function information database based on the feature information of the image forming apparatus of the image forming apparatus of the own. Wherein the request, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information is information including a print request and print data. Said sorting means receives a response to the request from the selected image forming apparatus, the request to the terminal which is accepted, claim 2 or 3 allocates a response to the request received from the selected image forming apparatus The image forming apparatus described. A request distribution method executed by an image forming apparatus that performs processing according to a received request,
The image forming apparatus includes:
A condition extracting step for extracting the function of the image forming apparatus necessary for processing from the request received from the terminal and the state of the image forming apparatus including information on the type of paper, amount of paper necessary for the processing, and ink amount ;
With itself and function information database for managing function information of the other image forming apparatus, function and type of paper required for the extracted process of the image forming apparatus necessary for the extracted process, the amount of paper, ink amount A device selection step of selecting an image forming apparatus suitable for the state of the image forming apparatus including the information of
A distribution step of distributing a request received from the terminal to the selected image forming apparatus ;
Have
The function information includes the function of the image forming apparatus and the type of the sheet, the state of the image forming apparatus including information on the amount of the sheet and the amount of ink , the function of the other image forming apparatus and the type of sheet, and the sheet. The request distribution method is information representing the state of the image forming apparatus including information on the amount of ink and the amount of ink . An image forming apparatus that performs processing according to the received request,
Condition extraction means for extracting the state of the image forming apparatus including information on the function of the image forming apparatus necessary for processing and the type of paper necessary for processing, the amount of paper, and the amount of ink from the request received from the terminal;
With itself and function information database for managing function information of the other image forming apparatus, function and type of paper required for the extracted process of the image forming apparatus necessary for the extracted process, the amount of paper, ink amount Device selection means for selecting an image forming apparatus suitable for the state of the image forming apparatus including the information of
A distribution unit that distributes the request received from the terminal to the selected image forming apparatus ;
To function,
The function information includes the function of the image forming apparatus and the type of the sheet, the state of the image forming apparatus including information on the amount of the sheet and the amount of ink , the function of the other image forming apparatus and the type of sheet, and the sheet. The request distribution program is information representing the state of the image forming apparatus including information on the amount of ink and the amount of ink . A request distribution system in which one or more terminals and a plurality of image forming apparatuses that perform processing in response to a request received from the one or more terminals are connected to enable data communication via a network.
The plurality of image forming apparatuses include:
Condition extracting means for extracting the state of the image forming apparatus including information on the function of the image forming apparatus necessary for processing and the type of paper necessary for processing, the amount of paper, and the amount of ink from the request received from the terminal;
With itself and function information database for managing function information of the other image forming apparatus, function and type of paper required for the extracted process of the image forming apparatus necessary for the extracted process, the amount of paper, ink amount Device selection means for selecting an image forming apparatus suitable for the state of the image forming apparatus including the information of
A distribution unit that distributes the request received from the terminal to the selected image forming apparatus ;
With
The function information includes the function of the image forming apparatus and the type of the sheet, the state of the image forming apparatus including information on the amount of the sheet and the amount of ink , the function of the other image forming apparatus and the type of sheet, and the sheet. The request distribution system is information indicating the state of the image forming apparatus including information on the amount of ink and the amount of ink .

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