Image forming system and image forming apparatus settings search method using WS-discovery

An image forming apparatus search method using WS-Discovery, comprising:

• via a client apparatus connected to a network, transmitting a Probe message including a search keyword to an image forming apparatus connected to the network;
• via the image forming apparatus:
• receiving the Probe message from the client apparatus,
• retrieving the search keyword from the Probe message,
• determining whether or not the search keyword retrieved from the Probe message matches a settings keyword stored in the image forming apparatus, and
• transmitting a ProbeMatch message to the client apparatus if the search keyword retrieved from the Probe message matches the settings keyword stored in the image forming apparatus,
• wherein the Probe message includes an identifier that distinguishes the Probe message from a web service search performed using WS-Discovery.

An image forming system, comprising:

• an image forming apparatus connected to a network;
• and
• another image forming apparatus connected to the network,
• wherein the image forming apparatus comprises:
• a first communication processing unit configured to transmit a Probe message including a search keyword requesting whether the another image forming apparatus has a function of transmitting setting data to the another image forming apparatus and receive a ProbeMatch message from the another image forming apparatus;
• an apparatus search unit configured to specify the another image forming apparatus that has transmitted the ProbeMatch message as the another image forming apparatus having the function of transmitting the setting data;
• a setting data request unit configured to transmit a request for the setting data to the another image forming apparatus that has transmitted the ProbeMatch message to the first communication processing unit;
• and
• a control unit configured to generate new setting data based on the setting data received via the setting data request unit, and to store the new setting data in the storage device;
• wherein the another image forming apparatus comprises:
• a storage device configured to store a settings keyword;
• a second communication processing unit configured to receive the Probe message from the first communication processing unit;
• a message analysis unit configured to retrieve the keyword from the Probe message;
• and
• a keyword determination unit configured to determine whether or not the search keyword requesting whether the another image forming apparatus has the function of transmitting the setting data retrieved from the Probe message matches the settings keyword stored in the storage device;
• wherein the second communication processing unit is further configured to, if the search keyword from the Probe message matches the settings keyword stored in the storage device, transmit the ProbeMatch message to the first communication processing unit.