Image processing system, relay server, and program

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016006901-A1
Application number	US-201514789730-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 1, 2015
Priority date	Jul 1, 2014
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An image processing system includes: an application server located in the Internet; an image processing apparatus located in a local network connected to the Internet via a firewall; a relay server configured to relay communication between the image processing apparatus and the application server, the relay server being located in the local network; and a connection mediation server configured to transmit, to the relay server, a request for a connection to the application server, the connection mediation server being located in the Internet, wherein the connection mediation server includes a connection request transmitting unit so as to have communication established between the image processing apparatus and the application server, the relay server includes: a communication establishing unit; a job transferring unit; a job identifying unit; and a communication terminating unit, and after the communication terminating unit terminates the communication, the communication establishing unit reestablishes the communication.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An image processing system comprising:
an application server located in the Internet; an image processing apparatus located in a local network connected to the Internet via a firewall; a relay server that relays communication between the image processing apparatus and the application server, the relay server being located in the local network; and a connection mediation server that transmits, to the relay server, a request for a connection to the application server, the connection mediation server being located in the Internet, wherein the connection mediation server comprises a connection request transmitting unit that transmits a connection request to the relay server when receiving a communication start request designating the image processing apparatus from the application server to establish communication between the image processing apparatus and the application server, the relay server comprises: a communication establishing unit that establishes the communication by connecting to the application server in accordance with the connection request from the connection mediation server; a job transferring unit that transfers a job received from the application server to the image processing apparatus; a job identifying unit that identifies a type of the job; and a communication terminating unit that terminates the communication when there is no transmission/reception being performed between the application server and the relay server in accordance with the job type identified by the job identifying unit, and after the communication terminating unit terminates the communication, the communication establishing unit reestablishes the communication by connecting to the application server after receiving data to be transmitted to the application server from the image processing apparatus, and transfers the data.

2 . The image processing system according to claim 1 , wherein, when determining that a predetermined time or longer is required between transfer of the job to the image processing apparatus and reception of the data, the communication terminating unit terminates the communication.

3 . The image processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the communication terminating unit terminates the communication without notifying the application server.

4 . The image processing system according to claim 3 , wherein the communication establishing unit generates a socket for connecting to the application server based on reception of the connection request from the connection mediation server, and establishes the communication, and
the communication terminating unit terminates the communication by discarding the socket.

5 . The image processing system according to claim 3 , wherein the communication establishing unit reestablishes the communication without notifying the application server.

6 . The image processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the relay server further comprises a storage unit that stores server connection information identifying the application server to be connected to in accordance with the connection request, and device connection information identifying the image processing apparatus to be connected to for transferring the job received from the application server, the server connection information and the device connection information being associated with each other, and,
when receiving a notification of completion of the job from the image processing apparatus identified by the device connection information, the communication establishing unit reestablishes the communication by connecting to the application server based on the server connection information stored and associated with the device connection information in the storage unit.

7 . A relay server that is located in a local network connected to the Internet via a firewall, connects to a connection mediation server located in the Internet, connects to an application server located in the Internet based on a connection request received from the connection mediation server, and relays communication between an image processing apparatus located in the local network and the application server,
the relay server comprising: a communication establishing unit that establishes communication between the image processing apparatus and the application server by connecting to the application server in accordance with the connection request from the connection mediation server; a job transferring unit that transfers a job received from the application server to the image processing apparatus; a job identifying unit that identifies a type of the job; and a communication terminating unit that terminates the communication when there is no transmission/reception being performed between the application server and the relay server in accordance with the job type identified by the job identifying unit, wherein, after the communication terminating unit terminates the communication, the communication establishing unit reestablishes the communication by connecting to the application server after receiving data to be transmitted to the application server from the image processing apparatus, and transfers the data.

8 . The relay server according to claim 7 , wherein, when determining that a predetermined time or longer is required between transfer of the job to the image processing apparatus and reception of the data, the communication terminating unit terminates the communication.

9 . The relay server according to claim 7 , wherein the communication terminating unit terminates the communication, without notifying the application server.

10 . The relay server according to claim 9 , wherein
the communication establishing unit generates a socket for connecting to the application server based on reception of the connection request from the connection mediation server, and establishes the communication, and the communication terminating unit terminates the communication by discarding the socket.

11 . The relay server according to claim 9 , wherein the communication establishing unit reestablishes the communication without notifying the application server.

12 . The relay server according to claim 7 , further comprising
a storage unit that stores server connection information identifying the application server to be connected to in accordance with the connection request, and device connection information identifying the image processing apparatus to be connected to for transferring the job received from the application server, the server connection information and the device connection information being associated with each other, wherein, when receiving a notification of completion of the job from the image processing apparatus identified by the device connection information, the communication establishing unit reestablishes the communication by connecting to the application server based on the server connection information stored and associated with the device connection information in the storage unit.

13 . A non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable program to be executed by a computer functioning as a relay server that is located in a local network connected to the Internet via a firewall, connects to a connection mediation server located in the Internet, connects to an application server located in the Internet based on a connection request received from the connection mediation server, and relays communication between an image processing apparatus located in the local network and the application server,
wherein the program causes the computer to carry out: (a) establishing communication between the image pro

Assignees

• Konica Minolta Inc

Inventors

• Torigoshi Akihiro
• Sawayanagi Kazumi
• Yamada Masami
• Uchida Hisashi
• Anezaki Kazuya
• Ito Yasutaka

Classifications

• H04N2201/0094

  Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception · CPC title

• H04N1/32545

  Distributing a job or task among a plurality of input devices or a plurality of output devices · CPC title

• H04N1/00244

  with a server, e.g. an internet server (fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324) · CPC title

• H04L41/24

  using dedicated network management hardware · CPC title

• H04N1/32786

  Ending a communication (H04N1/32614 takes precedence) · CPC title