Image processing method, image process system, and related equipment used therein including portable terminal, image forming data transmitting device and image forming device, as well as image processing program and computer readable recording medium that stores said program

An image processing method for forming an image on an image forming device based on a file stored in an image forming data transmission device using a portable terminal, said image forming data transmission device connected to a first internal network constructed inside a first firewall, said image forming device connected to a second internal network constructed inside a second firewall, and a file server connected to an external network constructed on the outside of said first firewall and said second firewall, comprising:

• a step (1) wherein said portable terminal establishes a connection with said image forming data transmission device via a public network, a public network authenticating server connected to said first internal network, and said first internal network;
• a step (2) wherein said portable terminal transmits an image forming request for said file stored in said image forming data transmission device to said image forming data transmission device;
• a step (3) wherein said image forming data transmission device receives said image forming request transmitted by said portable terminal in the step (2) and prepares an image forming data for said file according to said image forming request;
• a step (4) wherein said image forming data transmission device establishes a connection with said file server via said first internal network, said first firewall, and said external network using a protocol, which is allowed to make connections only from the internal network to the external network at said first firewall;
• a step (5) wherein said image forming data transmission device uploads said image forming data prepared in the step (3) to said file server;
• a step (6) wherein said image forming device establishes a connection with said file server via said second internal network, said second firewall, and said external network using a protocol, which is allowed to make connections only from the internal network to the external network at said second firewall;
• a step (7) wherein said image forming device downloads said image forming data from said file server;
• and
• a step (8) wherein said image forming device forms said image based on said image forming data downloaded in the step (7).

An image processing system for forming an image on an image forming device based on a file stored in an image forming data transmission device, using a portable terminal, said image forming data transmission device connected to a first internal network constructed inside a first firewall, said image forming device connected to a second internal network constructed inside a second firewall, and a file server connected to an external network constructed on the outside of said first firewall and said second firewall, wherein

• said portable terminal comprises
• a connection establishing means for establishing a connection with said image forming data transmission device via said second internal network, said second firewall, said external network, said first firewall and said first internal network using a protocol, which is allowed to make bi-directional connections between the internal network and the external network at said first firewall and said second firewall, and
• an image forming request transmission means for transmitting an image forming request for said file stored in said image forming data transmission device to said image forming data transmission device;
• said image forming data transmission device comprises
• an image forming request receiving means for receiving said image forming request from said portable terminal,
• an image forming data preparing means for preparing an image forming data for said file based on said image forming request received by said image forming request receiving means,
• a connection establishing means for establishing a connection with said file server via said first internal network, said first firewall, and said external network using a protocol, which is allowed to make connections only from the internal network to the external network at said first firewall, and
• an image forming data upload means for uploading said image forming data prepared by said image forming data preparing means to said file server;
• and
• said image forming device comprises
• a connection establishing means for establishing a connection with said file server via said second internal network, said second firewall, and said external network using a protocol, which is allowed to make connections only from the internal network to the external network at said second firewall,
• an image forming data download means for downloading said image forming data from said file server, and
• an image forming means for forming said image based on said image forming data downloaded by said image forming data download means.

An image processing system for forming an image on an image forming device based on a file stored in an image forming data transmission device, using a portable terminal, said image forming data transmission device connected to a first internal network constructed inside a first firewall, said image forming device connected to a second internal network constructed inside a second firewall, and a file server connected to an external network constructed on the outside of said first firewall and said second firewall, wherein

• said portable terminal comprises
• a connection establishing means for establishing a connection with said image forming data transmission device via a public network, a public network authenticating server connected to said first internal network, and said first internal network, and
• an image forming request transmission means for transmitting an image forming request for said file stored in said image forming data transmission device to said image forming data transmission device;
• said image forming data transmission device comprises
• an image forming request receiving means for receiving said image forming request from said portable terminal,
• an image forming data preparing means for preparing image forming data for said file based on said image forming request received by said image forming request receiving means,
• a connection establishing means for establishing a connection with said file server via said first internal network, said first firewall, and said external network using a protocol, which is allowed to make connections only from the internal network to the external network at said first firewall, and
• an image forming data upload means for uploading said image forming data prepared by said image forming data preparing means to said file server;
• and
• said image forming device comprises
• a connection establishing means for establishing a connection with said file server via said second internal network, said second firewall, and said external network using a protocol, which is allowed to make connections only from the internal network to the external network at said second firewall,
• an image forming data download means for downloading said image forming data from said file server, and
• an image forming means for forming said image based on said image forming data downloaded by said image forming data download means.

An image forming data transmission device for forming an image on an image forming device based on a file stored in said image forming data transmission device, using a portable terminal, said image forming data transmission device connected to a first internal network constructed inside a first firewall, said image forming device connected to a second internal network constructed inside a second firewall, and a file server connected to an external network constructed on the outside of said first firewall and said second firewall, comprising:

• a file storage means for storing said file;
• an image forming request receiving means for receiving an image forming request for said file stored in said file storage means from said portable terminal;
• an image forming data preparing means from preparing an image forming data for said file based on said image forming request received by said image forming request receiving means;
• a connection establishing means for establishing a connection with said file server via said first internal network, said first firewall, and said external network using a protocol, which is allowed to make connections only from the internal network to the external network at said first firewall;
• and
• an image forming data uploading means for uploading said image forming data prepared by said image forming data preparing means to said file server.

An image forming device for forming an image based on a file stored in an image forming data transmission device, using a portable terminal, said image forming data transmission device connected to a first internal network constructed inside a first firewall, said image forming device connected to a second internal network constructed inside a second firewall, and a file server connected to an external network constructed on the outside of said first firewall and said second firewall, comprising:

• a connection establishing means for establishing a connection with said file server via said second internal network, said second firewall, and said external network using a protocol, which is allowed to make connections only from the internal network to the external network at said second firewall;
• an image forming data download means for downloading from said file server an image forming data for said file uploaded by said image forming data transmission device to said file server;
• and
• an image forming means for forming said image based on said image forming data downloaded by said image forming data downloading means.

A program to control an image forming data transmission device for forming an image on an image forming device based on a file stored in said image forming data transmission device, using a portable terminal, said image forming data transmission device connected to a first internal network constructed inside a first firewall, said image forming device connected to a second internal network constructed inside a second firewall, and a file server connected to an external network constructed on the outside of said first firewall and said second firewall, characterized in causing said image forming data transmission device to execute:

• a step (1) of receiving an image forming request for said file from said portable terminal;
• a step (2) of preparing an image forming data for said file based on said image forming request received in the step (1);
• a step (3) of establishing a connection with said file server via said first internal network, said first firewall, and said external network using a protocol, which is allowed to make connections only from the internal network to the external network at said first firewall;
• and
• a step (4) of uploading said image forming data prepared in the step (2) to said file server.

A program to control an image forming device for forming an image based on a file stored in an image forming data transmission device, using a portable terminal, said image forming data transmission device connected to a first internal network constructed inside a first firewall, said image forming device connected to a second internal network constructed inside a second firewall, and a file server connected to an external network constructed on the outside of said first firewall and said second firewall, characterized in causing said image forming device to execute:

• a step (1) of establishing a connection with said file server via said second internal network, said second firewall and said external network using a protocol, which is allowed to make connections only from the internal network to the external network at said second firewall;
• a step (2) of downloading from said file server an image forming data for said file uploaded by said image forming data transmission device to said file server;
• and
• a step (3) of printing based on said image forming data downloaded in the step (2).