Source: http://patents.com/us-9787867.html
Timestamp: 2018-09-25 15:26:58
Document Index: 391970224

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 04254500', 'Application No. 2004', 'Application No. 2003', 'Application No. 2010', 'Application No. 10009646', 'application No. 2004', 'application No. 2004', 'application No. 2004', 'application No. 2003', 'art 122']

US Patent # 9,787,867. Information processing system, method and recording medium - Patents.com
United States Patent 9,787,867
Ohishi , et al. October 10, 2017
Ohishi; Tsutomu (Fukuoka, JP), Tanaka; Hiroyuki (Fukuoka, JP), Fujisaki; Kazumi (Fukuoka, JP)
Family ID: 1000002881443
15/093,222
US 20160227070 A1 Aug 4, 2016
14731592 Jun 5, 2015 9344596
14057201 Oct 18, 2013 9092182
13680870 Nov 19, 2012 8593678
13051821 Mar 18, 2011 8339649
10900098 Jul 28, 2004 7933033
Jul 29, 2003 [JP] 2003-203078
Jul 21, 2004 [JP] 2004-213188
Jul 21, 2004 [JP] 2004-213189
Jul 21, 2004 [JP] 2004-213190
Current CPC Class: H04N 1/32101 (20130101); G06F 3/1296 (20130101); H04N 1/00095 (20130101); H04N 1/00204 (20130101); H04N 1/00209 (20130101); H04N 1/00244 (20130101); H04N 1/00944 (20130101); H04N 1/00946 (20130101); H04N 1/00973 (20130101); H04N 1/2166 (20130101); H04N 1/32358 (20130101); G06F 3/1293 (20130101); H04N 2201/0094 (20130101); H04N 2201/0039 (20130101); H04N 2201/0043 (20130101); H04N 2201/0046 (20130101)
Current International Class: G06F 3/12 (20060101); H04N 1/21 (20060101); G06K 15/00 (20060101); H04N 1/00 (20060101); H04N 1/32 (20060101)
4977304 December 1990 Ino et al.
5060071 October 1991 Ino
5797022 August 1998 Shimotono et al.
6373585 April 2002 Mastie et al.
6650435 November 2003 Ikeda
6724495 April 2004 Morisaki
6952278 October 2005 Miyahara et al.
6961139 November 2005 Kita et al.
7002702 February 2006 Machida
7123371 October 2006 Yoda et al.
7202962 April 2007 Roosen et al.
RE39801 August 2007 Marbry et al.
7333223 February 2008 Gupton et al.
7418436 August 2008 Maeda et al.
7511842 March 2009 Mihira
7522297 April 2009 Egawa
7538901 May 2009 Sugishita et al.
7633639 December 2009 Ohishi et al.
7636172 December 2009 Akiyoshi et al.
8041971 October 2011 Takeuchi
8270000 September 2012 Funakawa et al.
8478154 July 2013 Tsujimoto
8601280 December 2013 Harada
2001/0028465 October 2001 Sugino
2002/0114004 August 2002 Ferlitsch
2002/0122203 September 2002 Matsuda
2003/0020949 January 2003 Goto
2003/0069811 April 2003 Ximenes et al.
2003/0081742 May 2003 Czyszczewski et al.
2003/0107758 June 2003 Fujiwara
2003/0133136 July 2003 Ohishi et al.
2003/0140174 July 2003 Ohishi et al.
2003/0218765 November 2003 Ohishi et al.
2003/0218771 November 2003 Mihira
2004/0057074 March 2004 Ohishi et al.
2004/0075857 April 2004 Akiyoshi et al.
2004/0109188 June 2004 Akiyoshi et al.
2004/0128532 July 2004 Ohishi et al.
2004/0130747 July 2004 Ohishi et al.
2004/0141200 July 2004 Minami
2004/0184098 September 2004 Niitsuma
2004/0223167 November 2004 Yu
2005/0007628 January 2005 Yamano et al.
2005/0057771 March 2005 Ohishi et al.
2009/0153902 June 2009 Yamamoto
0 863 662 Sep 1998 EP
8-95760 Apr 1996 JP
8-95769 Apr 1996 JP
8-95770 Apr 1996 JP
8-202607 Aug 1996 JP
8-223345 Aug 1996 JP
8-286991 Nov 1996 JP
8-329102 Dec 1996 JP
9-102840 Apr 1997 JP
10-84381 Mar 1998 JP
11-55488 Feb 1999 JP
11-144072 May 1999 JP
11-249840 Sep 1999 JP
2000-89997 Mar 2000 JP
2000-148651 May 2000 JP
2000-222371 Aug 2000 JP
2000-324282 Nov 2000 JP
2001-67278 Mar 2001 JP
2001-285543 Oct 2001 JP
2001-296980 Oct 2001 JP
2001-337801 Dec 2001 JP
2001-356928 Dec 2001 JP
2002-7090 Jan 2002 JP
2002-84383 Mar 2002 JP
2002-120438 Apr 2002 JP
2002-342119 Nov 2002 JP
2003-92658 Mar 2003 JP
2003-167715 Jun 2003 JP
2003-177949 Jun 2003 JP
2003-179717 Jun 2003 JP
3717679 Sep 2005 JP
4065715 Jan 2008 JP
4181963 Sep 2008 JP
4194476 Oct 2008 JP
4307208 May 2009 JP
Hugo Rabson, et al., "Mondo Rescue and Mindi Linux HOWTO Chapter 7. Backup", 'Online!, XP-002321588, http://web.archive.org/web/20030220154318/www.microwerks.net/{hugo/donloa- d/1.6x-howto/backupcommands.html>, pp. 1-2, Mar. 17, 2005. cited by applicant .
Hugo Rabson, et al., "Mondo Rescue and Mindi Linux HOWTO", 'Online!, XP-002321589, http://web.archive.org/web/20021016061828/www.microwerks.net/{hugo/donloa- d/1.6x-howto/>, pp. 1-2, Mar. 17, 2005. cited by applicant .
Summons to Oral Proceedings issued Nov. 11, 2010, in European Patent Application No. 04254500.4. cited by applicant .
Patent Abstracts of Japan, JP 11-219277, Aug. 10, 1999. cited by applicant .
Patent Abstracts of Japan, JP 2001-337801, Dec. 7, 2001. cited by applicant .
Erez Strauss, "Linux simple fax printer server mini-HOWTO (faxsrv-mini-HOWTO)", http://www.lbiblio.org/pub/Linux/docs/ HOWTO/other-formats/pdf/Fax-Server.pdf>, vol. 1.0, XP-002329214, Nov. 8, 1997, pp. 1-5. cited by applicant .
Adam Thornton, "Enterprise Printing with Linux: Part I--The Basics of Linux and Generic Unix Printing Systems", Technical Support, XP-002329215, Jan. 2001, 3 pages. cited by applicant .
Codonics, "LPR and LP", Codonics Technical Briefs, XP-002329216, 1998, 4 pages. cited by applicant .
Japanese Office Action issued on May 17, 2011 in corresponding Japanese Application No. 2004-213188. cited by applicant .
Office Action issued Sep. 6, 2011 in Japan Application No. 2003-203078. cited by applicant .
Office Action issued Feb. 28, 2012, in Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-144361. cited by applicant .
European Office Action issued May 6, 2015in European Patent Application No. 10009646.0. cited by applicant .
Grafen R, "Mit Samba Wird Aus Linux Ein Stabiler Windows Datei-Und Druckserver", NTZ (Nachrichtentechnische Zeitschrift), VDE Verlag Gmbh, DE, vol. 52, No. 6, Jan. 1, 1999(Jan. 1, 199), pp. 32-33, XP000846989, ISSN: 0948-728X. cited by applicant.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 14/731,592, filed Jun. 5, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 14/057,201, filed Oct. 18, 2013, (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,092,182), which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 13/680,870, filed Nov. 19, 2012, (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,593,678), which is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No. 13/051,821, filed Mar. 18, 2011, (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,339,649), which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/900,098 filed Jul. 28, 2004, (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,933,033), which claims priority to Japanese patent application No. 2004-213190, filed in the JPO on Jul. 21, 2004, Japanese patent application No. 2004-213189, filed in the JPO on Jul. 21, 2004, Japanese patent application No. 2004-213188, filed in the JPO on Jul. 21, 2004, and Japanese patent application No. 2003-203078, filed in the JPO on Jul. 29, 2003. The contents of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
1. An information processing apparatus comprising: a memory configured to include a plurality of folders, the plurality of folders including a first folder associated exclusively with a print setting for requesting execution, by an image processing apparatus other than the information processing apparatus; and a processor configured to transmit to the image processing apparatus, in response to a file being stored in the first folder, a print request for the image processing apparatus to execute a print process of the file based on the print setting associated with the first folder.
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print setting includes information for identifying the image processing apparatus.
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of folders in the memory include a second folder associated exclusively with a facsimile sending setting for requesting execution of a facsimile sending process by the image processing apparatus, and the processor is further configured to transmit to the image processing apparatus, in response to a second file being stored in the second folder, a facsimile sending request for the image processing apparatus to execute a facsimile sending process of the second file based on the facsimile sending setting associated with the second folder.
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the facsimile sending setting includes information for identifying an apparatus to execute the facsimile sending process.
5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of folders in the memory include a third folder associated exclusively with a mail delivering setting for requesting execution of a mail delivering process by the image processing apparatus, and the processor is further configured to transmit to the image processing apparatus, in response to a third file being stored in the third folder, a mail delivering request for the image processing apparatus to execute a mail delivering process of the third file based on the mail delivering setting associated with the third folder.
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of folders in the memory include a fourth folder associated exclusively with a file transfer setting for requesting execution of a file transfer process by the image processing apparatus, and the processor is further configured to transmit to the image processing apparatus, in response to a fourth file being stored in the fourth folder, a file transfer request for the image processing apparatus to execute a file transfer process of the fourth file based on the file transfer setting associated with the fourth folder.
7. A method for an information processing apparatus, the method comprising: detecting, by a processor of the information processing apparatus, a file being stored in a first folder of a plurality of folders included in a memory of the information processing apparatus, the first folder associated exclusively with a print setting for requesting execution by an image processing apparatus other than the information processing apparatus; and transmitting to the image processing apparatus, by the processor in response to the file being stored in the first folder, a print request for the image processing apparatus to execute a print process of the file based on the print setting associated with the first folder.
8. A non-transitory computer program product that stores a program which, when executed by a processor of an information processing apparatus, causes the information processing apparatus to perform a process comprising: detecting a file being stored in a first folder of a plurality of folders included in a memory of the information processing apparatus, the first folder associated exclusively with a print setting for requesting execution by an image processing apparatus other than the information processing apparatus; and transmitting to the image processing apparatus, in response to the file being stored in the first folder, a print request for the image processing apparatus to execute a print process of the file based on the print setting associated with the first folder.
UNIX that is the OS 706 is installed in the HDD 703 of the server computer 701. The server computer 701 functions as a server (NFS server) of NFS. The OS (UNIX) is also installed in the HDD 233 in the compound machine 101. The compound machine 101 is connected to the server computer 701 via the network, so that the compound machine 101 functions as a client (NSF client) of NFS. Accordingly, information processing of NFS such as "vfs (virtual file system) operation", "v-node (virtual node) operation" can be performed by the UNIX in the server 701 and in the compound machine 101.
As a technology for realizing the distributed file system, "samba" may be used instead of NFS. In this case, Windows is installed in the HDD 703 in the server computer 701 as the OS 706, so that the server computer 701 functions as a server (samba server) of samba. UNIX is installed in the HDD 233 of the compound machine 101, and the compound machine 101 functions as a client (samba client) of samba. By using samba, the UNIX machine can use a shared folder of a Windows machine.
The file system of the compound machine is described with reference to FIG. 9. In UNIX, the storage area in the HDD is divided into a plurality of partitions. Usually, in UNIX, partitions from "a" to "h" exist. The partition "a" is a root file system "/", "b" is SWAP, "c" is a whole area, partitions from "d" to "h" are file systems such as "/user" and the like. FIG. 9 is an example of information on the file system of the compound machine 101 that is displayed by a df command of the OS 136 (UNIX). FIG. 9 shows that "a" in the HDD 233 is mounted on "/", "e" is mounted on "/user". In addition, FIG. 9 shows that "/dir1" that is a directory (file system) of the server computer 701 "host a" is mounted on "/host_a/dir1" that is a directory (mount point) of the compound machine 101.
The backup process or the restore process can be performed by the MCS 165 when a "backup button" or a "list button" is touched on a screen displayed on the touch panel 311 by the application. Instead of such a local operation by the touch panel 311, the operation of the backup can be performed remotely from a terminal. The above-mentioned "backup process" can be automatically performed by the MCS 165 periodically, for example, once a week. Instead of performing the backup process by the MCS 165, another program that is launched periodically may automatically perform the backup process.
In the following, relating to the first example and the fourth example, "image data" is described in detail. With reference to FIGS. 14A and 14B, storing formats of data in a file are described. In a compound machine 101, as shown in FIG. 14A, image data (scanned data or print data) is stored in a file having a storing format in which storing areas are arranged sequentially in a HDD and the like. The file of the format shown in FIG. 14A is referred to as "RAW file" hereinafter.
In the file system of UNIX, as shown in FIG. 14B, data is stored in a file having a storing format in which storing areas in a HDD are arranged discretely. The file of the storing format for the file system of UNIX is referred to as "FS file" hereinafter.
In "backup process" in the first example and "storing process" in the fourth example, image data is stored in a RAW file that corresponds to an image forming job (scanning job or printing job) in the HDD 233 or the SD memory card of the compound machine 101. That is, pieces of image data are stored in RAW files in units of image forming jobs. Then, the data in the RAW file is stored in a FS file corresponding to the image forming job in the file system of the HDD 703.
In "restore process" of the first example or in "obtaining process" of the fourth example, the image data in the FS file stored in the file system in the HDD 703 is obtained and stored in a RAW file in the HDD 233 or the SD memory card 602 of the compound machine 101.
Relating to the second example and the third example, "power source mode" is described.
Two power source modes exist in the compound machine 101. One mode is "ON mode" that corresponds to a status where the power is on. Another mode is "OFF mode" that corresponds to a status where the power is OFF. When the compound machine 101 is used, from a point of view of convenience, it is desirable to keep "ON mode" so as to set the compound machine in a waiting mode at all times. However, from a viewpoint of power saving, it is not desirable to keep "ON mode" at all times.
Thus, the "ON mode" includes a "power saving mode" in addition to a normal "waiting mode", wherein the power saving mode is a mode for saving consumed power while the compound machine is waiting for image forming process. In the power saving mode, power sources that usually consume large power in a waiting status reduce power consumption, wherein the power sources that usually consume large power include a heater power source of a phaser of the printing part 122, a motor power source of a spindle of the HDD 233, a panel power source of the touch panel 311 and the like. Power sources that consume small power such as a power source of NIC 241 remains in the usual waiting mode. Accordingly, the viewpoint of convenience and the viewpoint of the power saving become compatible.
UNIX as the OS 136 is installed in the HDD 223 of the compound machine 101. The compound machine 101 functions as a server (NFS server) of the distributed file system of NFS. The OS (UNIX) is also installed in the HDD 1703 in the PC 1701. The PC 1701 is connected to the compound machine 101 via the network, so that the PC 1701 functions as a client (NSF client) of NFS. Accordingly, information processing of NFS such as "vfs (virtual file system) operation", "v-node (virtual node) operation" can be performed by UNIX.
As a technology for realizing the distributed file system, "samba" may be used instead of NFS. In this case, UNIX is installed in the HDD 233 of the compound machine 101 so that the compound machine 101 functions as a server (samba server) of the distributed file system of samba. Windows is installed in the HDD 1703 in the PC 1701 as the OS 1706, so that the PC 1701 functions as a client (samba client) in samba. By using samba, the Windows machine can use shared folders in a UNIX machine.
The file system of the PC 1701 is described with reference to FIG. 27. In UNIX, the storage area in the HDD is managed by dividing the area into a plurality of partitions. Usually, in UNIX, the partitions from "a" to "h" exists. The partition "a" is a root file system "/", the partition "b" is SWAP, "c" is a whole area, partitions from "d" to "h" are the file system such as "/user" and the like. FIG. 27 is an example of information on the file system of the PC 1701 that is displayed by a df command of the OS 1706 (UNIX). FIG. 27 shows that "a" in the HDD 1703 is mounted on "/", "e" is mounted on "/user". In addition, FIG. 27 shows that "/dir1" that is a directory (file system) of the compound machine 101 "host_a" is mounted on "/host_a/dir1" that is a directory (mount point) of the PC 1701.
The path names of the file system 2001 shown in FIG. 28 as "*". Path names of the directories 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 are shown in FIG. 28 as path names "A, B, C, D, E, F".
When a file is stored in the directory 2011 for printing in in the file system 2001, the compound machine 101 performs print process for the file. The application (printer application 142 or SDK application) performs the print process. The file to be stored is an electronic document file for example.
In the following, a facsimile sending destination of the facsimile sending process is described. In the directory 2012 for the facsimile sending process, a directory "03-1234-5678" exists as shown in the path name "B1" in FIG. 28. When a file is stored in the directory "03-1234-5678", the compound machine 101 starts to perform facsimile sending process to send the file data to a facsimile telephone number "03-1234-5678". As mentioned above, when a file is stored in the directory that corresponds to a facsimile sending process for sending a facsimile to a predetermined facsimile sending destination, the compound machine 101 performs the facsimile sending process to send the file data to the predetermined facsimile sending destination. Information of the facsimile sending destination is obtained in step 22 and passed to the FCS 162 in step 24 and used in step 25.
In the following, the destination for sending the print job execution request is described. In the directory for the print process, a directory "192.168.0.2" exists as shown in the path name "C1" in FIG. 28. When a file is stored in the directory "192.168.0.2", the compound machine 101 causes the image forming apparatus 2031 having an IP address "192.168.0.2" to print the file. As mentioned above, when a file is stored in a directory corresponding to a print process by a predetermined image forming apparatus, the compound machine 101 causes the predetermined image forming apparatus to perform a print process for the file. Information of the destination for sending the print execution request is obtained in step 32, passed to the NCS 161 in step 33 and is used in step 34.
In the following, the destination for sending the facsimile sending job execution request is described. In the directory 2014 for the facsimile sending process, a directory "192.168.0.2/03-1234-5678" exists as shown in the path name "D1" in FIG. 28. When a file is stored in the directory "192.168.0.2/03-1234-5678", the compound machine 101 causes the image forming apparatus 2032 having an IP address "192.168.0.2" to send a facsimile to a facsimile telephone number "03-1234-5678". As mentioned above, when a file is stored in a directory corresponding to a facsimile sending process by a predetermined image forming apparatus, the compound machine 101 causes the predetermined image forming apparatus to perform the facsimile sending process for the file. Information of the destination for sending the facsimile sending process execution request is obtained in step 42, passed to the image forming apparatus 2032 in steps 43 and 44 and is used in step 45.
In the directory 2015, a directory "192.168.0.2/put" exists as shown in the path name "E1" in FIG. 28. When a file is stored in the directory "192.168.0.2/put", the compound machine 101 sends the file to a ftp server having an IP address "192.168.0.2". In the directory 2015, a directory "ftp.ricoh.co.jp/put" exists as shown in the path name "E3" in FIG. 28. When a file is stored in the directory "ftp.ricoh.co.jp/put", the compound machine 101 sends the file to a ftp server having a domain name "ftp.ricoh.co.jp". As mentioned above, when a file is stored in the directory corresponding to the file transfer process for transferring the file to a predetermined destination, the compound machine 101 performs a file transfer process to send the file to the predetermined destination. Information of the file transferring destination is obtained in step 52 and is used in step 53 in FIG. 33.
In the directory 2015, a directory "192.168.0.2/get" exists as shown in the path name "E2" in FIG. 28. When a file is stored in the directory "192.168.0.2/get", the compound machine 101 updates the file by obtaining a file from a ftp server having an IP address "192.168.0.2". In the directory 2015, a directory "ftp.ricoh.co.jp/get" exists as shown in the path name "E4" in FIG. 28. When a file is stored in the directory "ftp.ricoh.co.jp/get", the compound machine 101 updates the file by obtaining a file from a ftp server having a domain name "ftp.ricoh.co.jp". As mentioned above, when a file is stored in the directory corresponding to the file obtaining process for obtaining the file from a predetermined destination, the compound machine 101 performs the file updating process based on the file obtaining process. Information of the file obtaining source is obtained in step 62 and is used in step 63 in FIG. 34.
In the directory 2016 for the mail process, a directory "admin@ricoh.co.jp" exists as shown in the path name "F1" in FIG. 28. When a file is stored in the directory "admin@ricoh.co.jp", the compound machine 101 performs a mail delivering process to send a mail to which the file is attached as an attached file to a mail server of the mail address "admin@ricoh.co.jp". As mentioned above, when a file is stored in the directory for the mail delivering process to a predetermined destination, the compound machine 101 performs the mail delivering process to send a mail to which the file is attached as an attached file to the predetermined destination. Information of the mail delivering destination is obtained in step 72 and is used in step 73 in FIG. 35.