Patent ID: 8286097
Filing Date: 2012-10-09
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An image processing apparatus comprising: a registration unit that registers a processing flow set by combining a plurality of processes including an image inputting process and an image outputting process; an execution unit that executes the plurality of processes based on the registered processing flow; a first transmission unit configured to transmit, if the registered processing flow includes at least one process that cannot be executed by the image processing apparatus, to each of other image processing apparatuses, a request for confirming whether or not the processing flow can be executed thereby; a first reception unit configured to receive a response to the request transmitted by said first transmission unit, the response indicating that the processing flow can be executed, from any of the other image processing apparatuses; a decision unit configured to decide a transfer destination of the processing flow, out of the any of the other image processing apparatuses that have transmitted the response; a generation unit configured to generate from the processing flow a first cooperation processing flow including processes that can be executed by the image processing apparatus, and a second cooperation processing flow including at least one process that cannot be executed by the image processing apparatus; a transfer unit configured to transfer the second cooperation processing flow to the transfer destination decided by said decision unit; a first display unit configured to display an execution button for executing the first cooperation processing flow; a second transmission unit configured to transmit an instruction for executing the second cooperation processing flow, if a user depresses the execution button for executing the first cooperation processing flow, to the transfer destination, after the execution unit executes the first cooperation processing flow; a second reception unit configured to receive a request for confirming whether or not the processing flow can be executed; a first determination unit configured to determine whether or not the processing flow can be executed by the image processing apparatus; a third transmission unit configured to transmit the response indicating that the processing flow can be executed, if said first determination unit determines that the processing flow can be executed, to a transmission source of the request received by said second reception unit; a third reception unit configured to receive the second cooperation processing flow from the transmission source of the request; a fourth reception unit configured to receive the instruction for executing the second cooperation processing flow; a second determination unit configured to determine whether or not an execution button for executing the second cooperation processing flow is to be displayed; a second display unit configured to display the execution button for executing the second cooperation processing flow, if said second determination unit determines that the execution button is to be displayed; and a processing unit configured to execute the second cooperation processing flow when said second determination unit determines that the execution button is not to be displayed; wherein said second determination unit determines whether or not the execution button is to be displayed, depending on whether or not a final process of the second cooperation processing flow is a printing process; and wherein said second display unit displays the execution button for executing the second cooperation processing flow in a form different from a form of an execution button for executing another processing flow.