Image Processing System, Image Processing Apparatus, Instruction Server, and Storage Medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016286079-A1
Application number	US-201615078272-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 23, 2016
Priority date	Mar 25, 2015
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An image processing system includes: an image processing apparatus; an instruction server configured to transmit instruction information to the image processing apparatus via a router having a firewall function; and a session server configured to set up a session between the image processing apparatus and the instruction server. The image processing apparatus is configured to switch, in a case where the state of the image processing apparatus is a power saving state when a time specified by a transmission interval elapses from transmission of a connection confirmation packet for the session with the instruction server, to a state in which at least the connection confirmation packet can be transmitted.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An image processing system comprising:
an image processing apparatus; an instruction server configured to transmit instruction information to the image processing apparatus via a router having a firewall function; and a session server configured to set up a session between the image processing apparatus and the instruction server, the image processing apparatus including:
a processor; and
a communication unit,
the processor being configured to control a state of the image processing apparatus to be one of a plurality of states including a normal state and a power saving state in which a power consumption is smaller than a power consumption in the normal state, the communication unit being configured to transmit to the session server a connection confirmation packet for a session between the instruction server and the image processing apparatus, and the processor being configured to
adjust a transmission interval of the connection confirmation packet based on a connection state of the session between the instruction server and the image processing apparatus after previous transmission of the connection confirmation packet, so that the transmission interval is within a session timeout period for the firewall function of the router, and
switch the gate of the image processing apparatus to a state in which the communication unit can at least transmit a packet, in a case where the state of the image processing apparatus is the power saving state when a time specified by the transmission interval elapses from previous transmission of the connection confirmation packet.

2 . The image processing system according to claim 1 , wherein
the processor is configured to
shorten the transmission interval in a case where the session between the image processing apparatus and the instruction server is connected, and
extend the transmission interval in a case where the session between the image processing apparatus and the instruction server is disconnected.

3 . The image processing system according to claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to decrease a value of a time by which the transmission interval is shortened or extended, in a case where a result which represents connection or disconnection of the session between the image processing apparatus and the instruction server is different from a result derived from preceding packet transmission.

4 . The image processing system according to claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured, in a case where the number of times a result which represents connection or disconnection of the session between the image processing apparatus and the instruction server is different from a result derived from preceding packet transmission reaches a predetermined number of times, to decrease a value of a time by which the transmission interval is shortened or extended subsequently.

5 . The image processing system according to claim 3 , wherein the processor is configured not to change a length of time by which the transmission interval is shortened or extended, in a case where the value of the time by which the transmission interval is shortened or extended reaches a predetermined value.

6 . The image processing system according to claim 3 , wherein the processor is configured not to shorten or extend the transmission interval in a case where the value of the time by which the transmission interval is shortened or extended reaches a predetermined value.

7 . The image processing system according to claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured to restart shortening or extension of the transmission interval on a condition that the value of the time by which the transmission interval is shortened or extended reaches a predetermined value and thereafter disconnection of the session between the image processing apparatus and the instruction server is detected.

8 . The image processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to return the state of the image processing apparatus to the power saving state, in a case where the processor switches the state of the image processing apparatus to the state in which the communication unit can at least transmit a packet and thereafter establishment of the session between the image processing apparatus and the instruction server is confirmed through packet transmission by the communication unit.

9 . The image processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured not to switch the state of the image processing apparatus to a state in which the communication unit can transmit a packet, in a case where the processor controls the state of the image processing apparatus to be the power saving state in accordance with a predetermined schedule, even when the time specified by the transmission interval elapses from transmission of the packet by the communication unit.

10 . The image processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the communication unit is configured to transmit the packet to the session server only in a specific period rather than at the transmission interval, in a case where the specific period is set in which the image processing apparatus is not set in the power saving mode.

11 . The image processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured not to switch the state of the image processing apparatus to the state in which the communication unit can at least transmit a packet, in a case where the transmission interval reaches a predetermined lower limit, even when the state of the image processing apparatus is the power saving state, after elapse of a time specified by the transmission interval from transmission of the packet by the communication unit.

12 . The image processing system according to claim 1 , wherein
the processor is configured to execute a process of acquiring a TEC (Typical Electricity Consumption) value of the image processing apparatus, and the processor is configured not to shorten the transmission interval any more, in a case where the transmission interval is less than an interval at which the TEC value is measured.

13 . The image processing system according to claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to synchronize a timing at which the TEC value is measured, with a timing at which a packet is transmitted by the communication unit.

14 . The image processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to stop transmission of the packet in a case where the image processing apparatus is in a state in which the image processing apparatus cannot carry out an instruction specified by the instruction information.

15 . The image processing system according to claim 14 , wherein the state in which the image processing apparatus cannot carry out an instruction specified by the instruction information includes at least any one of:
a state in which a firmware update process is executed in the image processing apparatus; a state in which a log acquisition process is executed in the image processing apparatus; a state in which control is executed in an administrator mode in the image processing apparatus; and a state in which the image processing apparatus executes image formation.

16 . The image processing system according to claim 1 , further comprising a server group connectable with the image processing apparatus, wherein
the image processing apparatus is configured to transmit and receive data to and from the server group, the instruction server is configured to manage the server group, the processor is configured to issue an inquiry to the

Assignees

• Konica Minolta Inc

Inventors

• Nishimura Ryosuke
• Shozaki Toshiya
• Maruyama Tomoko
• Haba Shoko
• Shiraishi Jun

Classifications

• H04N1/00206

  Transmitting or receiving computer data via an image communication device, e.g. a facsimile transceiver (H04N1/00236 takes precedence) · 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

• H04L67/141

  Setup of application sessions (admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70) · CPC title

• H04N1/00891

  Switching on or off, e.g. for saving power when not in use (H04N1/00896 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04N1/36 Primary

  for synchronising or phasing transmitter and receiver · CPC title