Image processing system, image processing apparatus, instruction server, and storage medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9979855-B2
Application number	US-201615078272-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2016
Priority date	Mar 25, 2015
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

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 device,

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 device 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 by:
shortening the transmission interval in a case where the session between the image processing apparatus and the instruction server is disconnected and extending the transmission interval in a case where the session between the image processing apparatus and the instruction server is connected, and
decreasing 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, and

switch the state of the image processing apparatus to a state in which the communication device 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 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.

3. The image processing system according to claim 1 , 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.

4. The image processing system according to claim 3 , 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.

5. 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 device 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 device.

6. 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 device 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 device.

7. The image processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the communication device 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.

8. 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 device 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 device.

9. 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.

10. The image processing system according to claim 9 , 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.

11. 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 device,

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 device 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 by:
shortening the transmission interval in a case where the session between the image processing apparatus and the instruction server is disconnected and extending the transmission interval in a case where the session between the image processing apparatus and the instruction server is connected, and
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

Assignees

• Konica Minolta Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H04L67/145

  avoiding end of session, e.g. keep-alive, heartbeats, resumption message or wake-up for inactive or interrupted session · CPC title

• H04N1/00206

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

• H04N2201/0094

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

• G06F3/1229

  Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels · CPC title

• H04N1/00891

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