US 8,896,864 B2Granted

Image processing system, image processing method, image processing server, and recording medium

AssigneeKonica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.

InventorsShoko Haba, Taketoshi Yamahata, Masao Hosono, Kazuhiro Tomiyasu, Eiichi Yoshida

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Abstract

A plurality of image processing servers in charge of a first-order service individually transmit their server selection information to a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a second-order service, and those in charge of the second-order service individually select one of those in charge of the first-order service as the most preferred server based on the server selection information received therefrom. Similarly, a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a third-order service individually select one of those in charge of the second-order service as the most preferred server based on the server selection information of those in charge of the second-order service received therefrom. Also similarly, an image forming apparatus selects one of a plurality of image processing servers in charge of the final service as the most preferred server based on the server selection information of those in charge of the final service received therefrom.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An image processing system including:

an image forming apparatus;
and a plurality of image processing servers which cooperatively perform a series of image processing services in a predetermined order on target image data while being connected to the image forming apparatus,
the image forming apparatus comprising:
an output portion which outputs the target image data, order information indicating the order of performing a series of image processing services, and specific information to specify each of the image processing servers to each of the image processing servers that performs a first-order image processing service,
each of a first group of the image processing servers which performs the first-order image processing service comprising:
a transmitter which transmits said target image data, said order information, said specific information, and a server selection information based on which to select one of a plurality of the first group of the image processing servers as the most preferred server to all of a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a second-order image processing service,
each of a second group of the image processing servers which performs a n-th-order (n≧2) image processing service comprising:
a selection information obtainer which obtains server selection information from all of a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a (n−1)-th-order image processing service;
a server selector which selects one of the servers in charge of the (n−1)-th-order image processing service as the most preferred server based on the server selection information obtained by the selection information obtainer;
and
a transmitter which transmits most preferred server information indicating the image processing server in charge of the (n−1)-th-order image processing service, selected by the server selector;
most preferred server information indicating each of the image processing server in charge of the order from the first to a (n−2)-th-order image processing service when the selected image processing server by the server selector is in charge of the order after the second;
the target image data;
and server selection information based on which to select one of a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a n-th-order image processing service as the most preferred server, to all of a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a (n+1)-th-order image processing service or the image forming apparatus,
the image forming apparatus further comprising:
a selection information obtainer which obtains server selection information from all of a plurality of image processing servers in charge of the final image processing service;
and
a server selector which selects one of the servers in charge of the final image processing service as the most preferred server based on the server selection information obtained by the selection information obtainer.

15 more elements

An image processing method for an image processing system including:

an image forming apparatus;
and a plurality of image processing servers which cooperatively perform a series of image processing services in a predetermined order on target image data while being connected to the image forming apparatus via a network, comprising:
outputting the target image data, order information indicating the order of performing a series of image processing services, and specific information to specify each of the image processing servers to each of the image processing servers that performs a first-order image processing service;
and
each of the image processing servers transmits said target image data, said order information, said specific information, and a server selection information based on which to select one of a plurality of the first group of the image processing servers as the most preferred server to all of a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a second-order image processing service;
each of a second group of the image processing servers which performs a n-th-order (n≧2) image processing service:
obtains server selection information from all of a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a (n−1)-th-order image processing service;
selects one of the servers in charge of the (n−1)-th-order image processing service as the most preferred server based on the obtained server selection information;
and
transmits most preferred server information indicating the image processing server in charge of the (n−1)-th-order image processing service selected by the server selector;
most preferred server information indicating each of the image processing servers in charge of the order from the first to a (n−2)-th-order image processing service when the selected image processing server is in charge of the order after the second;
the target image data;
and server selection information based on which to select one of a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a n-th-order image processing service as the most preferred server, to all of a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a (n+1)-th-order image processing service or the image forming apparatus;
and
the image forming apparatus:
obtains server selection information from all of a plurality of image processing servers in charge of the final image processing service;
and
selects one of those in charge of the final image processing service as the most preferred server based on the server selection information obtained.

15 more elements

In an image processing system including an image forming apparatus and a plurality of image processing servers which cooperatively perform a series of image processing services in a predetermined order on target image data, while being connected to the image forming apparatus via a network,

the plurality of image processing servers comprising a first group of the image processing servers which perform a first order image processing service, and a second group of the image processing servers which perform an n-the-order (n≧2) image processing service;
each of the plurality of image processing servers comprising:
a selection information obtainer which obtains server selection information from all of the plurality of image processing servers that are in charge of a (n−1)-the-order image processing service;
a server selector which selects one of the servers in charge of the (n−1)-the-order image processing service as the most preferred server based on the server selection information obtained by the selection information obtainer;
and
a transmitter which transmits most preferred server information indicating the image processing server in charge of the (n−1)-the-order image processing service, selected by the server selector;
most preferred server information indicating each of the image processing server in charge of the order from the first to a (n−2)-the-order image processing service when the selected image processing server by the server selector is in charge of the order after the second;
the target image data;
and server selection information based on which to select one of a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a n-the-order image processing service as the most preferred server, to all of a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a (n+1)-the-order image processing service or the image forming apparatus.

6 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium with an image processing program being stored thereon to make a computer of an image processing server to be employed in an image processing system including an image forming apparatus;

and a plurality of image processing servers which cooperatively perform a series of image processing services in a predetermined order on the target image data originated from the image forming apparatus, while being connected to the image forming apparatus via a network, execute:
outputting the target image data, order information indicating the order of performing a series of image processing services, and specific information to specify each of the image processing servers to each of the image processing servers that performs a first-order image processing service;
and
each of the image processing servers transmits said target image data, said order information, said specific information, and a server selection information based on which to select one of a plurality of the first group of the image processing servers as the most preferred server to all of a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a second-order image processing service;
each of a second group of the image processing servers which performs a n-th-order (n≧2) image processing service:
obtains server selection information from all of a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a (n−1)-th-order image processing service;
selects one of the servers in charge of the (n−1)-th-order image processing service as the most preferred server based on the obtained server selection information;
and
transmits most preferred server information indicating the image processing server in charge of the (n−1)-th-order image processing service selected by the server selector;
most preferred server information indicating each of the image processing servers in charge of the order from the first to a (n−2)-th-order image processing service when the selected image processing server is in charge of the order after the second;
the target image data;
and server selection information based on which to select one of a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a n-th-order image processing service as the most preferred server, to all of a plurality of image processing servers in charge of a (n+1)-th-order image processing service or the image forming apparatus.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/308,882Filed 1 Dec 2011
Priority: JP 2010-2696492 Dec 2010
Published: US 2012/0140276 A17 Jun 2012
Granted: 25 Nov 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

G06F 9/5027
To service a request: the resource being a machine, e.g. CPUs, Servers, Terminals
G06F 3/1206
Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management: resulting in increased flexibility in input data format or job format or job type
G06F 3/1211
Specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect: improving printing performance
G06F 3/1271
Job submission, e.g. submitting print job order or request not the print data itself: job submission at the printing node, e.g. creating a job…