Image processing apparatus for receiving a request relating to image processing from an external source and executing the received request

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• a hardware resource that includes at least one of an image forming unit, a read unit, and a display unit;
• a control layer;
• an external API (application program interface) program;
• and
• an application group including one or more application programs stored in an application layer,
• wherein the hardware resource, the control layer, the external API program, and the application group are arranged in such a hierarchical architecture that the control layer is superordinate to the hardware resource, and
• the application group including the one or more application programs and the external API program are superordinate to the control layer,
• the control layer includes a first API for receiving, with use of a predefined function, a first request relating to image processing from the external API program and a second request relating to image processing from the one or more application programs, and controls, on receiving either of the first and second requests, the hardware resource to perform image processing based on the received request, and
• the external API program includes a second API for receiving a third request relating to image processing from an external source, converts the received third request to a command supported by the first API, and passes the command as the first request to the control layer;
• wherein commands, parameters, and syntax for controlling the hardware resource are released to the public for incorporation by external users into software supported by the second API,
• wherein the third request is data expressed in an XML,
• wherein the external API program further includes:
• a first converting unit for extracting predetermined information from the received XML data;
• and a second converting unit for converting the extracted information to the command supported by the first API.

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• a hardware resource including at least one of an image forming unit, a read unit, and a display unit;
• a control layer;
• an external API (application program interface) program;
• and
• an application group including one or more application programs stored in an application layer,
• wherein the hardware resource, the control layer, the application group and the external API program are arranged in such a hierarchical architecture that the control layer is superordinate to the hardware resource, and the application group including the one or more application programs and the external API program are superordinate to the control layer,
• the control layer includes a first API for receiving, with use of a predefined function, a first request relating to image processing from the external API program, and controls the hardware resource to perform image processing based on the received first request, and
• the external API program includes a second API for receiving a second request relating to image processing from an external source and a third request relating to image processing from the one or more application programs, converts, on receiving either of the second and third requests, the received request to a command supported by the first API, and passes the command as the first request to the control layer;
• wherein commands, parameters, and syntax for controlling the hardware resource are released to the public for incorporation by external users into software supported by the second API,
• wherein the second request is data expressed in an XML,
• wherein the external API program further includes:
• a first converting unit for extracting predetermined information from the received XML data;
• and a second converting unit for converting the extracted information to the command supported by the first API.