Information processing apparatus, system, and control method for information processing apparatus
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorKenta Fukushima
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An HTTP relay server determines whether a communication partner device is a supporting device or a supported device, using a device management table. Further, the HTTP relay server determines a state of a state (used or unused) of a URI indicating an area where support data are temporarily stored, and a device using the URI (device ID), using the URI management table. When access (communication request) is received from an image forming apparatus, the HTTP relay server assigns the image forming apparatus to an unused URI. Further, when access (communication request) is received from an operator PC, the HTTP relay server assigns the operator PC to an URI used by the supported device.
Claims14
An information processing apparatus executed by a computer which includes a storage unit and a processing unit and which implements a registration unit, a notification unit, and a relay unit, the information processing apparatus configured to relay data via a network between a supporting device and a supported device that receives remote support by the supporting device, the information processing apparatus comprising:
- the storage unit;
- the processing unit configured to store in the storage unit a plurality of relay identifiers, each for transmitting and receiving data between a supporting device and a supported device, in such a manner that a relay identifier included in the plurality of relay identifiers is associated with a supporting device or a supported device that is using the relay identifier;
- the registration unit configured to select, according to a request from a first supported device, a first relay identifier not being used by another supported device from among the stored plurality of relay identifiers and then register the first supported device in association with the first relay identifier, and to register, according to a request from a first supporting device for providing remote support to the first supported device, the first supporting device in association with the first relay identifier;
- the notification unit configured to notify the first supported device and the first supporting device about the first relay identifier;
- and
- the relay unit configured to buffer data according to receiving, from the first supported device or the first supporting device, a POST request to post the data based on the first relay identifier, and to return the buffered data according to receiving, from the first supporting device or the first supported device, a GET request to get the buffered data based on the first relay identifier.
A remote support system comprising:
- a first supporting device;
- a first supported device that receives remote support from the first supporting device;
- and
- a relay device configured to relay data between the first supporting device and the first supported device via a network,
- wherein the relay device is executed by a computer which includes a storage unit and a processing unit and which implements a registration unit, a notification unit, and a relay unit, the relay device includes:
- the storage device;
- the processing unit configured to star in the storage device a plurality of relay identifier, each for transmitting and receiving data between a supporting device and a supported device, in such a manner that relay identifier included in plurality of relay identifiers is associated wish a supporting device or a supported device that is using the relay identifier;
- the registration unit configured to select, according to a request from the first supported device, a first relay identifier not being used by another supported device from among the stored plurality of relay identifiers and then register the first supported device in association with the first relay identifier, and to register, according to a request from the first supporting device, the first supporting device in association with the first relay identifier,
- the notification unit configured to notify the first supported device and the first supporting device about the first relay identifier;
- and
- the relay unit configured to buffer data according to receiving, from the first supported device or the first supporting device, a POST request so post the data based on the first relay identifier, and to return the buffered data according to receiving, from the first supporting device or the first supported device, a GET request to get the buffered data based on the first relay identifier, and
- wherein the first supporting device and the first supported device each include:
- a receiving unit configured to receive the first relay identifier from the relay unit;
- a first transmission unit configured to transmit, to the relay device, the POST request to post data based on the first relay identifier;
- and
- a second transmission unit configured to transmit, to the relay system, the GET request to get data based on the first relay identifier.
A method for controlling an information processing apparatus for relaying data via network between a supporting device and a supported device that receives remote support by the supporting device, information processing apparatus executed by a computer which includes a storage unit and a processing unit and which implements a registration unit, a notification unit, and a relay unit, the method comprising:
- using the processing unit to store in the storage unit a plurality of relay identifier, each for transmitting and receiving data between a supporting device and a supported device, in such a manner that a relay identifier included in the plurality of relay identifier is associated with a supporting device or a supported device that is using the relay identifier
- using the registration unit to select, according to a request from a first supported device, a first relay identifier not being used by another supported device from among the stored plurality of relay identifiers and then register the first supported device in association with the first relay identifier, and to register, according to a request from a first supporting device for providing remote support to the first supported device, the first supporting device in association with the first relay identifier;
- using the notification unit to notify the first supported device and the first supporting device about the first relay identifier;
- and
- using the notification unit to notify the first supported device and the first supporting device about the first relay identifier, and
- using the buffering unit to buffer data according to receiving, from the first supported device or the first supporting device, a POST request to post the data based on the first relay identifier, and to return the buffered data according to receiving, from the first supporting device or the first supported device, a GET request to get the buffered data based on the relay identifier.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for storing a program that causes a computer to execute a method for controlling an information processing apparatus, information processing apparatus executed by the computer which includes a storage unit and a processing unit and which implements a registration unit, a notification unit, and a relay unit, the comprising:
- using the unit to store in the storage unit a plurality of relay identifier, each for transmitting and receiving data between a supporting device and a supported device, in such a manner that a URI included in the plurality of relay identifies is associated with a supporting device or a supported device that is using the relay identifier;
- using the registration unit to select, according to a request from a first supported device, a first relay identifier not being used by another supported device from among the stored plurality of relay identifiers and then register the first supported device in association with the first relay identifier, and to register, according to a request from a first supporting device for providing remote support to the first supported device, the first supporting device in association with the first relay identifier;
- using the notification unit to notify the first supported device and the first supporting device about the first relay identifier;
- and
- using the buffering unit data according to receiving, from the first supported device or the first supporting device, a POST request to post the data based on the first relay identifier, and to return the buffered data according to receiving, from the first supporting device or the first supported device, a GET request to get the buffered data based on the first relay identifier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.