U.S. patent application number 15/392357 was filed with the patent office on 2017-04-20 for image processing system and information synchronizing method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Ricoh Company, Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Keisuke IWASA, Shigeo NEGORO, Kiyohiko SHINOMIYA. Invention is credited to Keisuke IWASA, Shigeo NEGORO, Kiyohiko SHINOMIYA.
Application Number | 20170111537 15/392357 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50825184 |
Filed Date | 2017-04-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170111537 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
IWASA; Keisuke ; et
al. |
April 20, 2017 |
IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND INFORMATION SYNCHRONIZING METHOD
Abstract
An image processing system includes a main unit of an image
processing apparatus and an operational unit. The operational unit
includes a request receiver that receives a request to modify
operational unit administrative information, an administrative
information modifying unit that modifies the operational unit
administrative information in response to the received request to
modify, and an administrative information reporting unit that
reports modified content of the operational unit administrative
information to the main unit of the image processing apparatus. The
main unit of the image processing apparatus includes an apparatus
information synchronizer that modifies the apparatus administrative
information that corresponds to the reported modified content after
receiving the modified content of the operational unit
administrative information from the operational unit.
Inventors: |
IWASA; Keisuke; (Kanagawa,
JP) ; NEGORO; Shigeo; (Tokyo, JP) ; SHINOMIYA;
Kiyohiko; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
IWASA; Keisuke
NEGORO; Shigeo
SHINOMIYA; Kiyohiko |
Kanagawa
Tokyo
Tokyo |
|
JP
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Ricoh Company, Ltd.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
50825184 |
Appl. No.: |
15/392357 |
Filed: |
December 28, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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14080027 |
Nov 14, 2013 |
9571679 |
|
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15392357 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/00498 20130101;
H04N 1/00538 20130101; H04L 67/1095 20130101; H04N 1/00496
20130101; H04N 1/0097 20130101; H04N 2201/0094 20130101; H04N
1/00941 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 1/00 20060101
H04N001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 4, 2012 |
JP |
2012-264965 |
Claims
1-11. (canceled)
12. An image processing system, comprising: a main unit of an image
processing apparatus, the main unit including a plotter device,
configured to operate on an apparatus operating system and perform
image processing based on apparatus administrative information; and
an operational unit, which is connected to the main unit via a
wired communication channel, configured to operate on an
operational unit operating system and perform operation processing
of the main unit based on operational unit administrative
information, the operational unit operating system being
independent of the apparatus operating system, the operational unit
including, an operation display device configured to receive a
request to modify the operational unit administrative information,
a first memory having first computer readable instructions stored
thereon, and at least one first processor configured to execute the
first computer readable instructions to, modify the operational
unit administrative information in accordance with the received
request, and report the modified content of the operational unit
administrative information to the main unit via the wired
communication channel; and the main unit of the image processing
apparatus further includes, a second memory having second computer
readable instructions stored thereon, and at least one second
processor configured to execute the second computer readable
instructions to, modify the apparatus administrative information
that corresponds to the modified content of the operational unit
administrative information, in response to the report regarding the
modified content of the operational unit administrative
information.
13. The image processing system of claim 12, wherein the wired
communication channel is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) channel.
14. The image processing system of claim 12, wherein the
operational unit operating system is different from the apparatus
operating system.
15. The image processing system of claim 12, wherein the apparatus
operating system is one of an Android operating system and an iOS
operating system.
16. The image processing system of claim 16, wherein the
operational unit operating system is one of an Android operating
system and an iOS operating system and is different from the
apparatus operating system.
17. The image processing system of claim 12, wherein the
operational unit administrative information includes information
related to at least one of: current time information, network proxy
information, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
information, available application information, language
information, summer time information, date display format
information, warning sound information, login name information,
password information, logoff timer information, auto reset timer
information, and media volume information.
18. The image processing system of claim 12, wherein the at least
one second processor is further configured to, receive a request to
modify the apparatus administrative information from a client
device via a network, modify the apparatus administrative
information in accordance with the received network request, and
report the modified content of the apparatus administrative
information to the operational unit via the wired communication
channel; and the at least one first processor is further configured
to, modify the operational unit administrative information that
corresponds to the modified content of the apparatus administrative
information, in response to the report regarding the modified
content of the apparatus administrative information.
19. A method of operating an image processing system, the image
processing system including a main unit of an image processing
apparatus, the main unit including a plotter device, configured to
operate on an apparatus operating system and perform image
processing based on apparatus administrative information, and an
operational unit, which is connected to the main unit via a wired
communication channel, configured to operate on an operational unit
operating system and perform operation processing of the main unit
based on operational unit administrative information, the
operational unit operating system being independent of the
apparatus operating system, the method comprising: receiving, using
at least one first processor, a request to modify the operational
unit administrative information via a display device of the
operational unit; modifying, using the at least one first
processor, the operational unit administrative information in
accordance with the received request; reporting, using the at least
one first processor, the modified content of the operational unit
administrative information to the main unit via the wired
communication channel, the reporting causing at least one second
processor to modify the apparatus administrative information that
corresponds to the modified content of the operational unit
administrative information, in response to the report regarding the
modified content of the operational unit administrative
information.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the wired communication channel
is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) channel.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein the operational unit operating
system is different from the apparatus operating system.
22. The method of claim 19, wherein the apparatus operating system
is one of an Android operating system and an iOS operating
system.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the operational unit operating
system is one of an Android operating system and an iOS operating
system and is different from the apparatus operating system.
24. The method of claim 19, wherein the operational unit
administrative information includes information related to at least
one of: current time information, network proxy information,
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) information, available
application information, language information, summer time
information, date display format information, warning sound
information, login name information, password information, logoff
timer information, auto reset timer information, and media volume
information.
25. The method of claim 19, further comprising: receiving, using
the at least one first processor, via the wired communication
channel, a notification from the main unit, the notification
including information related to modified content of the apparatus
administrative information in accordance with a received network
request; and modifying, using the at least one first processor, the
operational unit administrative information that corresponds to the
modified content of the apparatus administrative information, in
response to the report regarding the modified content of the
apparatus administrative information.
26. A non-transitory computer readable medium including computer
readable instructions, which when executed by at least one
processor, causes the at least one processor to: receive a request
to modify operational unit administrative information via a display
device of an operational unit of an image processing apparatus;
modify the operational unit administrative information in
accordance with the received request; report the modified content
of the operational unit administrative information to a main unit
of the image processing apparatus via a wired communication
channel; the reporting causing the main unit to modify apparatus
administrative information that corresponds to the modified content
of the operational unit administrative information, in response to
the report regarding the modified content of the operational unit
administrative information.
27. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 26,
wherein the wired communication channel is a Universal Serial Bus
(USB) channel.
28. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 26,
wherein the operational unit operating system is different from the
apparatus operating system.
29. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 26,
wherein the apparatus operating system is one of an Android
operating system and an iOS operating system.
30. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 26,
wherein the operational unit administrative information includes
information related to at least one of: current time information,
network proxy information, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
(DHCP) information, available application information, language
information, summer time information, date display format
information, warning sound information, login name information,
password information, logoff timer information, auto reset timer
information, and media volume information.
31. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 26,
wherein the at least one processor is further caused to: receive,
via the wired communication channel, a notification from the main
unit, the notification including information related to modified
content of the apparatus administrative information in accordance
with a received network request; and modify the operational unit
administrative information that corresponds to the modified content
of the apparatus administrative information, in response to the
report regarding the modified content of the apparatus
administrative information.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This U.S. non-provisional patent application is a
continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/080,027, filed on Nov.
14, 2013, which is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-264965,
filed on Dec. 4, 2012 in the Japan Patent Office, the entire
disclosure of both of which is hereby incorporated by reference
herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Technical Field
[0003] The present invention relates to an image processing system
and information synchronizing method.
[0004] Background Art
[0005] Conventionally, in image processing apparatuses such as
printers, facsimile machines, copiers, multifunctional peripherals
(MFP), and scanners, operational commands are input via an
operation display unit fixedly mounted on the image processing
apparatus and various information from the image processing
apparatus is displayed on the operation display unit.
[0006] Technologies that make the operation display unit removable
from the image processing apparatus, and accept operation and
displays information on the operation display unit performing
communication between the operation display unit and the main unit
of the image processing apparatus, have been proposed (e.g.,
JP-2009-186607-A).
SUMMARY
[0007] An example embodiment of the present invention provides an
image processing system that includes a main unit of an image
processing apparatus operates on an apparatus OS and performs image
processing based on apparatus administrative information managed by
the apparatus OS, and an operational unit that operates on an
operational unit OS independent of the apparatus OS and accepts
operation on the main unit of the image processing apparatus based
on operational unit administrative information managed by the
operational unit OS. The operational unit includes a request
receiver that receives a request to modify operational unit
administrative information, an administrative information modifying
unit that modifies the operational unit administrative information
in response to the received request to modify, and an
administrative information reporting unit that reports modified
content of the operational unit administrative information to the
main unit of the image processing apparatus. The main unit of the
image processing apparatus includes an apparatus information
synchronizer that modifies the apparatus administrative information
that corresponds to the reported modified content after receiving
the modified content of the operational unit administrative
information from the operational unit.
[0008] An example embodiment of the present invention includes an
information synchronizing method executed by the image processing
system. The information synchronizing method includes the steps of
receiving a request to modify the apparatus administrative
information, modifying the apparatus administrative information in
accordance with the received request to modify the apparatus
administrative information, reporting modified content of the
apparatus administrative information to the operational unit, and
modifying the apparatus administrative information that corresponds
to modified content of the operational unit administrative
information if the modified content of the operational unit
administrative information is reported from the operational unit.
The information synchronizing method, performed by the operational
unit, includes the steps of receiving a request to modify the
operational unit administrative information, modifying the
operational unit administrative information in accordance with the
received request to modify the operational unit administrative
information, reporting modified content of the operational unit
administrative information to the main unit of the image processing
apparatus, and modifying the operational unit administrative
information that corresponds to modified content of the operational
unit administrative information if the modified content of the
apparatus administrative information is reported from the main unit
of the image processing apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of
the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the
same becomes better understood by reference to the following
detailed description when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image processing
system as an embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram illustrating a synchronizing
process to modify time configuration as an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating a synchronizing
process to modify language configuration as an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating a synchronizing
process to modify application information configuration unattended
with modifying initial value as an embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] In describing preferred embodiments illustrated in the
drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity.
However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not
intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and
it is to be understood that each specific element includes all
technical equivalents that have the same function, operate in a
similar manner, and achieve a similar result.
[0015] In the conventional technology, the operation display unit
is removable from the image processing apparatus. Basically, the
operation display unit works on an operating system (OS) of the
image processing apparatus, and information necessary for operation
is exchanged as appropriate.
[0016] With such a configuration, it is possible that a different
OS is installed in each of the main unit of the image processing
apparatus and the operation display unit, and each of the main unit
of the image processing apparatus and the operation display unit
implements functions independently.
[0017] However, if a different OS is installed in each of the main
unit of the image processing apparatus and the operation display
unit, administrative information managed by each OS is not
synchronized timely and automatically between the two.
Consequently, the administrative information managed by both OSs,
such as time, may be different between the main unit of the image
processing apparatus and the operation display unit. In addition,
the administrative information regarding image processing at the
main unit of the image processing apparatus can be different.
[0018] Some differences in information between the main unit of the
image processing apparatus and the operation display unit are
acceptable and some are not. For example, differences in time
information can be unacceptable information. That is, regarding
license invalidation time for applications installed in the main
unit of the image processing apparatus, there are cases in which
that information can be unacceptable, such as when the invalidation
time displayed on the operation display unit is different from the
invalidation time stored in the main unit of the image processing
apparatus, time displayed on the operation display unit is
different from the time actually printed by the main unit of the
image processing apparatus in time-specified printing, printing
time displayed on the operation display unit is different from the
time actually printed on printed matter by the main unit of the
image processing apparatus, time displayed on the operation display
unit is different from logged time when the main unit of the image
processing apparatus printed, and time when power of the main unit
of the image processing apparatus is actually turned on and off by
a weekly timer is different from the time displayed on the
operation display unit.
[0019] In the following embodiment, an image processing system is
provided in which administrative information managed by different
OS installed in each of the main unit of the image processing
apparatus and the operation display unit, respectively, is
synchronized promptly, and image processing is optimized.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image processing
system 1 in this embodiment. In FIG. 1, the image processing system
1 includes a main unit of an image processing apparatus 2 and an
operational part 3. The operational part 3 is connected to the main
unit of the image processing apparatus 2 via a wired communication
channel 4 such as Universal Serial Bus (USB). The operational part
can also be connected via a wireless communication channel as
appropriate.
[0021] The main unit of the image processing apparatus 2 is the
main unit of the image processing apparatus 2, which is a facsimile
machine, a copier, a printer, a scanner, or a MFP. In this
embodiment, an MFP is used as the image processing apparatus. The
main unit of the image processing apparatus 2 includes necessary
hardware such as a scanner device 21 and a plotter device 22. The
main unit of the image processing apparatus 2 executes various
functions that use hardware, such as printing, scanning, copying,
faxing, folder transmission, and mail communication by installing
various applications on an OS 20 stored in a hard disk drive (HDD)
or a Read Only Memory (ROM). In the present embodiment, a generic
OS such as UNIX is used as the OS 20 in the main unit of the image
processing apparatus 2.
[0022] That is, the main unit of the image processing apparatus 2
executes an information synchronizing method that synchronizes
administrative information in the main unit of the image processing
apparatus 2 (apparatus administrative information) with
administrative information in the operational part 3 (operational
part administrative information) by reading an information
synchronizing program for the main unit of the image processing
apparatus 2 that executes an information synchronizing method run
on the main unit of the image processing apparatus 2 among
information synchronizing methods in the present invention stored
on a computer-readable media such as a ROM, Electrically Erasable
and Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), EPROM, flash memory,
flexible disk, Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Compact Disk
Rewritable (CD-RW), Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), Secure Digital
(SD) card, and Magneto-Optical (MO) disk and installing the program
in a nonvolatile memory or a hard disk drive (not shown in
figures). The information synchronizing program is a
computer-executable program written in legacy programming languages
and object oriented programming languages such as assembler, C,
C++, C#, and Java, and can be distributively stored on the storage
media described above.
[0023] As described above, the main unit of the image processing
apparatus 2 includes units necessary for the image processing
apparatus, such as the scanner device 21 and the plotter device 22,
and units such as a print controller 23, an administrative
information synchronizer 24, an administrative information storage
unit 25, a transmission controller 26, a communication controller
27, and communication interface 28 are constructed by installing
information synchronizing programs for the main unit of the image
processing apparatus 2.
[0024] The scanner device 21 uses an image scanner employing a
Charge Coupled Device (CCD) or Complementary Metal Oxide
Semiconductor (CMOS), and generally includes an Auto Document
Feeder (ADF). The ADF feeds documents one by one to a document
reading position of the scanner device 21. The scanner device 21
illuminates the document transferred from the ADF, converts the
light reflected by the document photoelectrically using the CCD or
CMOS, and reads an image on the document at a predefined
resolution. In addition, the scanner device 21 performs necessary
image processing on the read image data and passes it to the
transmission controller 26. The plotter device 22 outputs (forms)
an image on a recording medium such as paper based on drawing data
and control signals passed from the print controller 23, and
discharges the printed paper onto a paper output tray.
[0025] That is, in the case of an electrophotographic engine, the
plotter device 22 includes an image forming unit consisted of units
necessary to process printing based on the drawing data, such as a
photoconductor, a charging unit, an optical-writing unit, a
developer, a transferring unit, and a cleaning unit. If the plotter
device 22 is a color plotter, the plotter device 22 includes the
image forming units for a number of colors, e.g., CMYK. The plotter
device 22 operates the optical-writing unit using the drawing data
and the control signal, forms an electrostatic latent image on the
photoconductor charged uniformly by the charging unit, and forms a
toner image by supplying toner on the photoconductor and developing
the image using the developer. Subsequently, the plotter device 22
supplies paper into a gap between the photoconductor and the
transferring unit from a paper feeding unit, transfers the toner
image on the photoconductor to the paper using the transferring
unit, carries the paper on which the toner image is transferred to
a fixing unit, and fixes the toner image on the paper by heating
and pressing the paper using the fixing unit.
[0026] The print controller 23 is connected to the scanner device
21, the plotter device 22, and the administrative information
storage unit 25 and controls the scanner device 21, the plotter
device 22 and other units based on the apparatus administrative
information stored in the administrative information storage unit
25 and managed by the OS 20.
[0027] The administrative information storage unit 25 consists of
nonvolatile memory etc., and stores administrative information
necessary for the operation of the main unit of the image
processing apparatus 2. The administrative information includes
various administrative information managed by the OS 20 itself and
various administrative information managed by various application
software that run on the OS 20, etc., and is collectively referred
to as "administrative information" or "apparatus administrative
information" hereinafter.
[0028] The communication interface 28 communicates with the
operational part 3 via a communication channel 4 such as a USB. The
communication controller 27 transfers data to each unit in the main
unit of the image processing apparatus 2 controlling the data
received via the communication interface 28, and transfers data to
the operational part 3 and other apparatuses via the communication
interface 28 controlling the data received from each unit in the
main unit of the image processing apparatus 2.
[0029] The administrative information synchronizer 24 (comprised of
a request to modify apparatus administrative information receiver,
apparatus administrative information modifying unit, apparatus
administrative information reporter, apparatus information
synchronizer) manages the administrative information (apparatus
administrative information) stored in the administrative
information storage unit 25 described above. After the operational
part 3 reports modified content of the operational part
administrative information, the administrative information
synchronizer 24 modifies the apparatus administrative information
that corresponds to the reported modified content. In addition, the
administrative information synchronizer 24 receives a request to
modify the apparatus administrative information from a client PC,
etc., connected via a network via the communication interface 28,
and modifies the apparatus administrative information in accordance
with the received request to modify. Furthermore, the
administrative information synchronizer 24 reports to the
operational part 3 via the communication interface 28 about the
modified content of the apparatus administrative information.
[0030] The transmission controller 26 performs folder transmission
that transfers the image data read by the scanner device 21 to
another apparatus via the communication interface 28 and stores the
image data in a folder in a storage unit of the apparatus, mail
transmission that transfers mail attaching document image data to
another apparatus via a network using Server Message Block (SMB),
and outputs such as electronic media writing output that writes in
USB memory and SD memory mounted on the main unit of the image
processing apparatus 2 removably, printing output by itself, and
displaying output on the operational part 3.
[0031] In this embodiment, in the main unit of the image processing
apparatus 2, the operational part 3 connected to the main unit of
the image processing apparatus 2 via the wired communication
channel 4 such as USB is used as the operation display unit.
Otherwise, one or more operational parts 3 configured as portable
terminal devices separate from the main unit of the image
processing apparatus 2 and connected to the main unit of the image
processing apparatus 2 via a wireless communication channel. In
this case, the main unit of the image processing apparatus 2 can
include an operation display unit (not shown in figures) controlled
by the OS 20 in the main unit of the image processing apparatus 2.
The operation display unit includes operational keys that input
commands to operate various functions of the main unit of the image
processing apparatus 2 and a display that displays various
necessary information. By inputting a request to modify the
apparatus administrative information on the operation display unit,
the administrative information synchronizer 24 in the main unit of
the image processing apparatus 2 can receive the request to modify
the apparatus administrative information.
[0032] The operational part 3 includes hardware such as an
operation display unit 31 and executes various functions and
communications, etc., that utilize the hardware by installing
various application on the OS 30 stored in the ROM and RAM. The
operational part 3 adopts OS such as UNIX same as the OS 20 in the
main unit of the image processing apparatus 2 or Android, iOS, and
Windows different from the OS 20 as the OS 30 independent of the OS
20.
[0033] That is, the operational part 3 executes an information
synchronizing method (described in detail later) that synchronizes
information in the operational part 3 with information in the main
unit of the image processing apparatus 2 by reading an information
synchronizing program for the operational part 3 that executes an
information synchronizing method run on the operational part 3
among information synchronizing methods in the present invention
stored in computer-readable media such as a ROM, EEPROM, EPROM,
flash memory, flexible disk, CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD, SD card, and MO
disk and installing the program in nonvolatile memory such as ROM
(not shown in figures). The information synchronizing program is a
computer-executable program written in legacy programming languages
and object oriented programming languages such as assembler, C,
C++, C#, and Java, and can be distributed storing in storage media
described above.
[0034] An operation display application necessary to operate as the
operation display unit that instructs the main unit of the image
processing apparatus 2 to execute various functions is installed in
the operational part 3. Consequently, the operational part 3
functions as the operational part of the main unit of the image
processing apparatus 2.
[0035] As described above, the operational part 3 includes units
necessary for the operational part 3 such as the operation display
unit 31, and an administrative information synchronizer 32, an
administrative information storage unit 33, a communication
controller 34, and communication interface 35 are constructed by
installing information synchronizing programs for the operational
part 3.
[0036] The administrative information storage unit 33 consists of
nonvolatile memory, etc., and stores various administrative
information necessary for the operation of the operational part 3,
especially various information necessary for the operational part 3
to function as the operation display unit of the main unit of the
image processing apparatus 2. The administrative information
includes various administrative information managed by the OS 30
itself and various administrative information managed by various
application software that run on the OS 30 etc., and is referred to
as "operational part administrative information" as appropriate
hereinafter.
[0037] If any of the operational part administrative information
stored in the administrative information storage unit 33 and needed
to be synchronized with the apparatus administrative information
managed by the main unit of the image processing apparatus 2 is
modified, the administrative information synchronizer 32
synchronizes with corresponding information in the main unit of the
image processing apparatus 2. That is, after receiving a request to
modify the operational part administrative information, the
administrative information synchronizer 32 modifies the operational
part administrative information in accordance with the request to
modify. In addition, the administrative information synchronizer 32
reports to the main unit of the image processing apparatus 2 via
the communication interface 35 the modified content of the
operational part administrative information. Furthermore, after the
modified content of the apparatus administrative information is
reported from the main unit of the image processing apparatus 2,
the administrative information synchronizer 32 modifies the
operational part administrative information corresponding to the
reported modified content.
[0038] The communication interface 35 communicates with the main
unit of the image processing apparatus 2 via the communication
channel 4 such as USB described above.
[0039] The communication controller 34 transfers data to each unit
in the operational part 3 controlling the data received via the
communication interface 35, and transfers data to the main unit of
the image processing apparatus 2 and other apparatuses via the
communication interface 35 controlling the data received from each
unit in the operational part 3. In addition, the communication
controller 34 receives a request to modify the operational part
administrative information input from the operation display unit 31
and passes it to the administrative information synchronizer
32.
[0040] Next, operation of this embodiment will be described
below.
[0041] In the image processing system 1 in this embodiment, each of
the main unit of the image processing apparatus 2 and the
operational part 3 adopts the OS 20 and the OS 30 independently,
and the administrative information managed by the OS 20 and the OS
30 is synchronized promptly.
[0042] There are various types of information managed by the OS 20
installed in the main unit of the image processing apparatus 2 and
by the OS 30 installed in the operational part 3 that comprises the
image processing system 1 and need to be synchronized. Those are
necessarily synchronized information that is synchronized
necessarily, basically synchronized information that is
synchronized basically and sometimes initialized, and occasionally
synchronized information that is synchronized basically but
sometimes not synchronized.
[0043] For example, current time, proxy information used in
connecting to a network, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
information, and available application information can be
considered as examples of the necessarily synchronized
information.
[0044] In addition, language, summer time information, date display
format information, warning sound, login name, and password can be
considered as examples of the basically synchronized information.
The warning sound is volume of warning sound that notifies a user
of failure such as jamming, and its initial value is warning sound
on to notify the user of the failure even if it is set as off.
Sometimes it is appropriate to initialize the login name and
password to prevent other accounts from being held between the
operational part 3 and the main unit of the image processing
apparatus 2.
[0045] Furthermore, logoff timer, auto reset timer, and media
volume can be considered as examples of the occasionally
synchronized information. The logoff time is time to logoff
automatically after predetermined time without any operation, and
sometimes it is not synchronized to avoid security hole. The media
volume is volume of played sound, and it is synchronized basically.
However, sometimes it is not synchronized since it does not affect
fundamental performance.
[0046] First, taking current time information as an example, a
synchronizing process of the necessarily synchronized information
will be described below with reference to FIG. 2. As shown in FIG.
2, the image processing system 1 has an initializing mode.
[0047] In the initializing mode, the image processing system 1 can
be configured to either perform or not perform synchronization in
case the administrative information is modified, set initial value
in case it is prohibited from being modified information even if
there was a request to modify the administrative information, or
select either initial value or current setting value in case it is
prohibited from being modified information even if there was a
request to modify the administrative information.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 2, in the image processing system 1,
synchronization setting on administrative information (such as
enable/disable of synchronization, setting initial value, selecting
initial value or current value etc.) of the administrative
information synchronizer 32 is configured by operating a touch
panel on the operation display unit 31 of the operational part 3 in
S1. After performing synchronization setting, the administrative
information synchronizer 32 establish session with the
administrative information synchronizer 24 in the main unit of the
image processing apparatus 2 and reports the setting information on
synchronizing in S2.
[0049] After configuring the current time as the necessarily
synchronized information by operating the operation display unit 31
of the operational part 3, the communication controller 34 acquires
the modified current time and reports the modified current time
information to the administrative information synchronizer 32 in
S3.
[0050] The administrative information synchronizer 32 modifies the
current time information stored in the administrative information
storage unit 33 into the modified current time information in S4.
In addition, the administrative information synchronizer 32 reports
notification of modifying the current time information to the
administrative information synchronizer 24 in the main unit of the
image processing apparatus 2 via the communication controller 34
and the communication interface 35 in S5.
[0051] In the main unit of the image processing apparatus 2, after
the communication interface 28 receives the notification of
modifying the current time information from the operational part 3,
the administrative information synchronizer 24 modifies time
information in the administrative information storage unit 25 based
on the reported modified current time information in S6.
[0052] Similarly, in the image processing system 1, if the current
time information in the main unit of the image processing apparatus
2 is modified by using a client PC, etc., connected to the main
unit of the image processing apparatus 2 via a network, the
communication controller 27 acknowledges that the current time
information is modified and reports that to the administrative
information synchronizer 24 in S7.
[0053] After receiving the notification of modifying the current
time information, the administrative information synchronizer 24
modifies current time information stored in the administrative
information storage unit 25 into the modified current time
information in S8. In addition, the administrative information
synchronizer 24 transfers the notification of modifying the current
time information to the administrative information synchronizer 32
in the operational part 3 via the communication controller 27 and
the communication interface 28 in S9.
[0054] In the operational part 3, after the communication interface
35 receives the notification of modifying the current time
information from the main unit of the image processing apparatus 2,
the administrative information synchronizer 32 modifies time
information in the administrative information storage unit 33 based
on the reported modified current time information in S10.
[0055] As described above, if administrative information needed to
be synchronized between the main unit of the image processing
apparatus 2 whose OS is the OS 20 and the operational part 3 whose
OS is the OS 30 different from the OS 20 is modified, it is
possible to synchronize the modified contents promptly.
Consequently, regarding license expiration time of application
installed in the main unit of the image processing apparatus 2, a
case in which expiration time displayed on the operational part 3
is different from the expiration time in the main unit of the image
processing apparatus 2 can be avoided. Similarly, in time-specified
printing, a case in which time displayed on the operational part 3
is different from the time when the main unit of the image
processing apparatus 2 actually performs printing can be avoided; a
case in which printing time displayed on the operational part 3 is
different from the time printed on a printout by the main unit of
the image processing apparatus 2 can be avoided; a case in which
time displayed on the operational part 3 is different from logged
time when the main unit of the image processing apparatus 2
performs printing can be avoided; and a case in which time when the
main unit of the image processing apparatus 2 is actually turned
on/off by a weekly timer is different from the time displayed on
the operational part 3 can be avoided.
[0056] Next, taking language information as an example, a
synchronizing process of the basically synchronized information
will be described below with reference to FIG. 3.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 3, in the image processing system 1, if the
language setting is modified by operating the operation display
unit 31 of the operational part 3, the communication controller 34
acknowledges the modification of the language information and
reports the modified language information to the administrative
information synchronizer 32 in S11.
[0058] The administrative information synchronizer 32 modifies the
language information stored in the administrative information
storage unit 33 to the modified language information in S12. In
addition, the administrative information synchronizer 32 reports
notification of modifying the language information to the
administrative information synchronizer 24 in the main unit of the
image processing apparatus 2 via the communication controller 34
and the communication interface 35 in S13.
[0059] In the main unit of the image processing apparatus 2, after
the communication interface 28 receives the notification of
modifying the language information, the administrative information
synchronizer 24 checks whether or not the reported modified
language is available in S14.
[0060] If the reported modified language is available, the
administrative information synchronizer 24 modifies language
information in the administrative information storage unit 25 into
the modified language information in S15.
[0061] If the reported modified language is not available, the
administrative information synchronizer 24 configures the language
information in the administrative information storage unit 25 as an
initial value in S16.
[0062] Although not shown in FIG. 3, if the language information in
the main unit of the image processing apparatus 2 is modified by
using a client PC, etc., connected to the main unit of the image
processing apparatus 2 via a network, the language information is
synchronized similarly in the case in FIG. 3 in the same way as
performing the configuration operation on the administrative
information synchronizer 24 in the main unit of the image
processing apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 2. In this case, in the
operational part 3, if the reported modified language is not stored
in the administrative information storage unit 33, the
administrative information synchronizer 32 configures the language
information in the administrative information storage unit 33 as an
initial value.
[0063] As described above, if the basically synchronized
information needed to be synchronized between the main unit of the
image processing apparatus 2 whose OS is the OS 20 and the
operational part 3 whose OS is the OS 30 independent of the OS 20
is modified on either the main unit of the image processing
apparatus 2 or the operational part 3, it is possible to
synchronize the modified basically synchronized information
promptly. In addition, the basically synchronized information that
cannot be synchronized or needs to be initialized can be configured
as an initial value. Consequently, taking the warning sound as an
example, the warning sound can be configured as off if it is
unnecessary. However, if the user U is physically challenged, the
warning sound should be on. Therefore, if the initial value is
configured as on, it can be reconfigured as the warning sound
on.
[0064] Next, taking application administrative information as an
example, a synchronizing process of the occasionally synchronized
information will be described below with reference to FIG. 4.
[0065] As shown in FIG. 4, in the image processing system 1, if
setting of usage permission of application as administrative
information is modified by operating the operation display unit 31
of the operational part 3, the communication controller 34
acknowledges the modification of the usage permission setting of
application and reports the modified usage permission information
of application to the administrative information synchronizer 32 in
S21.
[0066] The administrative information synchronizer 32 modifies
usage permission information of application stored in the
administrative information storage unit 33 into the modified usage
permission information of application in S22. In addition, the
administrative information synchronizer 32 reports notification of
modifying the usage permission information of application to the
administrative information synchronizer 24 in the main unit of the
image processing apparatus 2 via the communication controller 34
and the communication interface 35 in S23.
[0067] In the main unit of the image processing apparatus 2, after
the communication interface 28 receives the notification of
modifying the usage permission information of application, the
administrative information synchronizer 24 searches all
applications and checks whether or not the reported modified
application is available based on the reported modified usage
permission information of application in S24.
[0068] If the reported modified application is available, the
administrative information synchronizer 24 changes the usage
permission information of application in the administrative
information storage unit 25 into the modified usage permission
information of application in S25.
[0069] If the reported modified application is not available, the
administrative information synchronizer 24 ignores the notification
or reports the administrative information synchronizer 32 in the
operational part 3 that the application is not installed (not shown
in FIG. 4) since the usage permission information of application is
meaningless.
[0070] Although not shown in FIG. 4, if the usage permission
information of application in the main unit of the image processing
apparatus 2 is modified by using a client PC, etc., connected to
the main unit of the image processing apparatus 2 via a network,
the usage permission information of application is synchronized
similarly as the case in FIG. 4 in the same way as performing the
configuration operation on the administrative information
synchronizer 24 in the main unit of the image processing apparatus
2 shown in FIG. 2.
[0071] As described above, if the occasionally synchronized
information needed to be synchronized between the main unit of the
image processing apparatus 2 whose OS is the OS 20 and the
operational part 3 whose OS is the OS 30 independent of the OS 20
is modified on either the main unit of the image processing
apparatus 2 or the operational part 3, it is possible to
synchronize the modified basically synchronized information
promptly. In addition, if the occasionally synchronized information
that cannot or need not be synchronized, the request to synchronize
is ignored. Consequently, taking the logoff timer that logs off
automatically if preset time has passed without operation to
enhance security as an example, if the logoff time configuration is
modified, the synchronizing process is performed basically.
However, if that can be a security hole, sometimes the
synchronizing process is not performed.
[0072] As described above, the image processing system 1 in this
embodiment includes the main unit of the image processing apparatus
2 that operates on the OS 20 (apparatus OS) based on the apparatus
administrative information managed by the OS 20 and performs image
processing and the operational part 3 that operates on the OS 30
(operational part OS) independent of the OS 20 based on the
operational part administrative information managed by the OS 30
and performs operation processing at the main unit of the image
processing apparatus 2. The operational part 3 includes the
administrative information synchronizer 32 (a request to modify the
operational part administrative information receiver) that receives
a request to modify the operational part administrative
information, the administrative information synchronizer 32
(operational part administrative information modifying unit) that
modifies the operational part administrative information in
accordance with the received request to modify, and the
administrative information synchronizer 32 (operational part
administrative information reporting unit) that reports the
modified content of the operational part administrative information
to the main unit of the image processing apparatus 2. The main unit
of the image processing apparatus 2 includes the administrative
information synchronizer 24 (apparatus information synchronizer)
that modifies the apparatus administrative information that
corresponds to the reported modified content.
[0073] Consequently, administrative information managed by the OS
20 on the main unit of the image processing apparatus 2 can be
synchronized with administrative information managed by the OS 30
independent of the OS 20 on the operational part 3 promptly, and it
is possible to optimize the image processing.
[0074] In addition, the image processing system 1 in this
embodiment includes the main unit of the image processing apparatus
2 that operates on the OS 20 based on the apparatus administrative
information managed by the OS 20 and performs image processing and
the operational part 3 that operates on the OS 30 independent of
the OS 20 based on the operational part administrative information
managed by the OS 30 and performs operation processing at the main
unit of the image processing apparatus 2. The main unit of the
image processing apparatus 2 includes the administrative
information synchronizer 24 (a request to modify the apparatus
administrative information receiver) that receives a request to
modify the apparatus administrative information, the administrative
information synchronizer 24 (apparatus administrative information
modifying unit) that modifies the apparatus administrative
information in accordance with the received request to modify, and
the administrative information synchronizer 24 (apparatus
administrative information reporting unit) that reports the
modified content of the apparatus administrative information to the
operational part 3. The operational part 3 includes the
administrative information synchronizer 32 (operational part
information synchronizer) that modifies the operational part
administrative information that corresponds to the reported
modified content.
[0075] Consequently, for example, if a client PC accesses the main
unit of the image processing apparatus 2, and the administrative
information managed by the OS 20 in the main unit of the image
processing apparatus 2 is modified, administrative information
managed by the OS 20 on the main unit of the image processing
apparatus 2 can be synchronized with administrative information
managed by the OS 30 independent of the OS 20 on the operational
part 3 promptly, and it is possible to optimize the image
processing.
[0076] In addition, in the image processing system 1 in this
embodiment, the main unit of the image processing apparatus 2
includes the administrative information synchronizer 24 (a request
to modify the apparatus administrative information receiver) that
receives a request to modify the apparatus administrative
information, the administrative information synchronizer 24
(apparatus administrative information modifying unit) that modifies
the apparatus administrative information in accordance with the
received request to modify, and the administrative information
synchronizer 24 (apparatus administrative information reporting
unit) that reports the modified content of the apparatus
administrative information to the operational part 3. The
operational part 3 includes the administrative information
synchronizer 32 (operational part information synchronizer) that
modifies the operational part administrative information that
corresponds to the reported modified content.
[0077] Consequently, for example, if a client PC accesses the main
unit of the image processing apparatus 2, and the administrative
information managed by the OS 20 in the main unit of the image
processing apparatus 2 is modified, and if the apparatus
information is modified on the operational part separate from the
main unit of the image processing apparatus 2, administrative
information managed by the OS 20 on the main unit of the image
processing apparatus 2 can be synchronized with administrative
information managed by the OS 30 independent of the OS 20 on the
operational part 3 promptly, and it is possible to optimize the
image processing.
[0078] Furthermore, in the image processing system 1 in this
embodiment, if the apparatus administrative information that
corresponds to the reported modified content is prohibited to
change, the administrative information synchronizer 24
(administrative information synchronizer) in the main unit of the
image processing apparatus 2 initializes the apparatus
administrative information or does not modify the apparatus
administrative information.
[0079] Consequently, between the main unit of the image processing
apparatus 2 in which the OS 20 is installed and the operational
part 3 that the OS 30 independent of the OS 20 is installed, the
administrative information managed by the OS 20 can be synchronized
with the administrative information managed by the OS 30 if they
can be synchronized or need to be synchronized. Otherwise, if that
administrative information does not need to be synchronized or
cannot be synchronized, it is initialized or not modified so that
appropriate image processing can be guaranteed. For example,
assuming that Japanese, English, and Chinese can be configured as
language setting on the operational part 3 and only English and
French can be configured as language setting on the main unit of
the image processing apparatus 2, if Japanese is configured on the
operational part 3, Japanese cannot be configured on the main unit
of the image processing apparatus 2. In this case, after receiving
the notification to modify the language setting to Japanese from
the operational part 3, the main unit of the image processing
apparatus 2 set an initial value (e.g., English) to the language
setting in order to improve usability. In other cases, for example,
if application information available for a user is initialized,
application usability for the user can be deteriorated or that can
lead to security hole. To cope with this issue, usability and
security can be enhanced by not modifying the administrative
information even if the request to modify is received.
[0080] Furthermore, in the image processing system 1 in this
embodiment, if modifying of the apparatus administrative
information that corresponds to the reported modifying content is
prohibited, the administrative information synchronizer 24
(apparatus information synchronizer) in the main unit of the image
processing apparatus 2 instructs a user to choose that either the
apparatus administrative information is initialized or the
apparatus administrative information is not modified.
[0081] In addition, in the image processing system 1 in this
embodiment, if modifying of the operational part administrative
information that corresponds to the reported modifying content is
prohibited, the administrative information synchronizer 32
(operational part information synchronizer) in the operational part
3 instructs a user to choose that either the operational part
administrative information is initialized or the operational part
administrative information is not modified.
[0082] Consequently, between the main unit of the image processing
apparatus 2 that the OS 20 is installed and the operational part 3
that the OS 30 independent of the OS 20 is installed, the
administrative information managed by the OS 20 can be synchronized
with the administrative information managed by the OS 30 if they
can be synchronized or need to be synchronized. Otherwise, if that
administrative information does not need to be synchronized or
cannot be synchronized, it is initialized or is not modified
depending on installation environment and availability for a user,
and appropriate usable image processing can be guaranteed.
[0083] Furthermore, the image processing system 1 in this
embodiment includes at least more than one of time, language,
timer, volume, network setting, and accounts as the apparatus
administrative information and the operational part administrative
information.
[0084] Consequently, administrative information such as time,
language, timer, volume, network setting, and accounts can be
synchronized as appropriate and promptly, and image processing can
be optimized.
[0085] The present invention be a recording medium storing a
program that executes a method, performed by an image processing
system that includes a main unit of an image processing apparatus
to operate on an apparatus operating system and perform image
processing based on apparatus administrative information managed by
the apparatus operating system and an operational unit to operate
on an operational unit operating system independent of the
apparatus operating system and perform operation processing to the
main unit of the image processing apparatus based on operational
unit administrative information manage d by the operational unit
operating system. The method of processing an image, performed by
the main unit of the image processing apparatus, comprising the
steps of receiving a request to modify the apparatus administrative
information, modifying the apparatus administrative information in
accordance with the received request to modify the apparatus
administrative information, reporting modified content of the
apparatus administrative information to the operational unit, and
modifying the apparatus administrative information that corresponds
to modified content of the operational unit administrative
information if the modified content of the operational unit
administrative information is reported from the operational unit.
The method of processing an image, performed by the operational
unit, comprising the steps of receiving a request to modify the
operational unit administrative information, modifying the
operational unit administrative information in accordance with the
received request to modify the operational unit administrative
information, reporting modified content of the operational unit
administrative information to the main unit of the image processing
apparatus, and modifying the operational unit administrative
information that corresponds to modified content of the operational
unit administrative information if the modified content of the
apparatus administrative information is reported from the main unit
of the image processing apparatus.
[0086] Numerous additional modifications and variations are
possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be
understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the
disclosure of this patent specification may be practiced otherwise
than as specifically described herein.
[0087] As can be appreciated by those skilled in the computer arts,
this invention may be implemented as convenient using a
conventional general-purpose digital computer programmed according
to the teachings of the present specification. Appropriate software
coding can readily be prepared by skilled programmers based on the
teachings of the present disclosure, as will be apparent to those
skilled in the software arts. The present invention may also be
implemented by the preparation of application-specific integrated
circuits or by interconnecting an appropriate network of
conventional component circuits, as will be readily apparent to
those skilled in the relevant art.
[0088] Each of the functions of the described embodiments may be
implemented by one or more processing circuits. A processing
circuit includes a programmed processor, as a processor includes
circuitry. A processing circuit also includes devices such as an
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and conventional
circuit components arranged to perform the recited functions.
* * * * *