Image forming system and control method using middleware
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorHyung-sik Byun
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A job control device, a multifunction device, and an operation method thereof are provided. The job control device includes a middleware unit that supports connection with a multifunction device comprising multiple devices having independent functions, and a job control unit that controls performing of a job by at least one device from among the plurality of devices through the middleware unit. A multifunction device includes a multiple devices that have independent functions and a middleware unit that requests a job call to the job control device. A device, from among the plurality of devices, called from the job control device through the middleware unit executes a corresponding function.
Claims19
A job control device comprising:
- a middleware unit that supports a connection with a multifunction device using middleware, the multifunction device comprising a plurality of devices having independent functions;
- and
- a job control unit that determines at least one of the device that is needed to carry out a requested job, after receiving request for a job call through the middleware unit and executes the requested job by using the determined at least one of the device from among the plurality of devices;
- wherein the middleware unit defines interfaces for the plurality of devices and constructs communication mechanism environmental elements of the defined interfaces;
- and
- wherein the definition of the interfaces of for the plurality of devices is to state the name of the interface, a factor to provide when the interface is called, and a type of factor;
- wherein if the multifunction device requests a job call, the job control unit selects and operates a device from among the plurality of devices to perform the job;
- wherein if two or more devices are needed to perform the job, the job control unit selects and sequentially operates the two or more devices according to the order specified by the job.
A method of operating a job control device that controls jobs of a multifunction device comprising a plurality of devices having independent functions, the operation method comprising:
- defining interfaces for the plurality of devices;
- constructing communication mechanism environmental elements of the defined interfaces;
- receiving a request for a job call from the multifunction device through a middleware unit;
- determining at least one of the device that is needed to carry out a requested job;
- and
- executing the requested job by using determined at least one of the device from among the plurality of devices;
- wherein the definition of the interfaces of for the plurality of devices is to state the name of the interface, a factor to provide when the interface is called, and a type of factor;
- wherein in the controlling of the job, if the multifunction device requests the job call, a device to perform the job is selected from among the plurality of devices in the multifunctional device and is operated;
- wherein in the controlling of the job, when two or more devices are needed to perform the job, the job control unit selects and sequentially operates the two or more devices according to the order specified by the job.
A multifunction device comprising:
- a plurality of devices that have independent functions;
- and
- a middleware unit that requests a job call to a job control device middleware,
- wherein the job control device determines at least two of the devices that are needed to carry out a requested job, after receiving request for a job call, and the job control unit selects and sequentially operates the at least devices according to the order specified by the job.
A method of operating a multifunction device comprising a plurality of devices having independent functions, the method comprising:
- requesting a job call through a middleware unit that supports connection with a job control device using middleware of the multifunction device, the job control device determines at least one of the device that is needed to carry out a requested job, after receiving request for the job call;
- and
- executing the requested job by using the determined at least two of the devices from among the plurality of devices;
- sequentially operating the at least two devices according to the order specified by the job
A job control system comprising
- a multifunction device comprising a plurality of devices having independent functions and having a first middleware unit;
- and
- a job control device comprising a first job control unit that controls a performing of a job by at least one device from among the plurality of devices and having a second middleware unit in communication with the first middleware unit,
- wherein the first middleware unit supports connection of the job control unit with the multifunction device to control a performing of a job by at least one device from among the plurality of devices,
- wherein the second middleware unit supports connection of the multifunction device with the job control device to provide a job call request to the job control device via the first middleware unit,
- wherein the job control device determines at least two of the devices that are needed to carry out a requested job, after receiving request for the job call, and
- wherein the determined at least two of the device from among the plurality of devices executes a requested job,
- wherein the job control unit selects and sequentially operates the at least two devices according to the order specified by the job.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.