JP2015094962A - Relay device, terminal device, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a communication load between a terminal and a server when the terminal obtains data stored in the server device.SOLUTION: An image forming device 10 transmits an image file generated by reading out manuscript to a service providing device 30 via a relay device 20, and generates a duplicate of the image file to store it in a duplicate storage region. When the relay device 20 receives an acquisition request for the image file from a terminal device 40, the relay device 20 determines whether the terminal device 40 and the image forming device 10 which is the transmission source of the image file, are on the same sub-network or not. If the terminal device 40 and the image forming device 10 are on the same sub-network, the image file is not downloaded from the service providing device 30 but the duplicate file stored in the image forming device 10 is transmitted to the terminal device 40.

Description

  The present invention relates to a relay device, a terminal device, and a program.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an electronic device such as a multifunction electronic device including a scanner function connected to a network or a single scanner device, and a digital image obtained by scanning a document with the electronic device and transferring the document via the network. A distribution system constructed by including a remote server for storing and managing data and a personal computer connected to a network, and distributing and providing digital image data stored and managed in the remote server to the personal computer via the network It is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-32425

  An object of the present invention is to reduce communication with a server when a terminal acquires data stored in a server device.

  The relay device according to claim 1 of the present invention includes: storage request data receiving means for receiving storage request data for requesting storage of the one data from one device storing one data; and the storage request According to the data, the storage request data transmitting means for transmitting the storage request data for requesting the storage of the one data to the server device and the transmission request data for requesting the transmission of the one data from the terminal device are received. Transmission request data reception means, and response data transmission means for transmitting the device identification data to the terminal device as a response to the transmission request data when the network to which the one device belongs corresponds to the network to which the terminal device belongs. Prepare.

  The relay device according to claim 2 of the present invention comprises: storage request data receiving means for receiving storage request data for requesting storage of the one data from one device storing one data; and the storage request According to the data, the storage request data transmitting means for transmitting the storage request data for requesting the storage of the one data to the server device and the transmission request data for requesting the transmission of the one data from the terminal device are received. When the transmission request data receiving means corresponds to a network to which the one device belongs and a network to which the terminal device belongs, the one data is received from the one device, and the received one data is sent to the transmission request Response data transmitting means for transmitting to the terminal device as a response to the data.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the relay device according to the first or second aspect of the present invention is the data identification data for identifying the one data in accordance with the transmission of the storage request data by the storage request data transmitting means. Identification data storage for storing first network identification data for identifying a network to which the one device belongs and device identification data for identifying the one device in the network to which the one device belongs in a storage device in association with each other Corresponding to the data identification data of the one data according to the transmission request data, the instruction means, the identification data receiving means for receiving the second network identification data for identifying the network to which the terminal device belongs from the terminal device To obtain the first network identification data and the device identification data stored in the storage device Identification data acquisition means, and when the network identified by the first network identification data corresponds to the network identified by the second network identification data, the response data transmission means It is determined that the network to which the terminal device belongs corresponds to the network to which the terminal device belongs.

  In the terminal device according to claim 4 of the present invention, in the network to which the own device belongs, broadcast means for inquiring about a device storing one data, and response data for the inquiry are transmitted from the one device. First response data receiving means for receiving the response data, and a transmission request for requesting transmission of the one data when response data for the inquiry has not been transmitted from any device. Transmission request data transmitting means for transmitting data to the relay apparatus, and second response data receiving means for receiving the one data transmitted from the relay apparatus as a response to the transmission request data.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage request data receiving unit that receives storage request data for requesting storage of the one data from a device that stores the data. In response to storage request data, storage request data transmission means for transmitting storage request data for requesting storage of the one data to the server device, and transmission request data for requesting transmission of the one data from the terminal device. If the transmission request data receiving means to be received corresponds to the network to which the one device belongs and the network to which the terminal device belongs, response data transmission means for sending the device identification data to the terminal device as a response to the transmission request data The structure for making it function as is provided.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage request data receiving unit that receives storage request data for requesting storage of the one data from a device that stores the data. In response to storage request data, storage request data transmission means for transmitting storage request data for requesting storage of the one data to the server device, and transmission request data for requesting transmission of the one data from the terminal device. When the transmission request data receiving means to receive corresponds to the network to which the one device belongs and the network to which the terminal device belongs, the one data is received from the one device, and the received one data is A configuration is provided for functioning as response data transmission means for transmitting to the terminal device as a response to transmission request data.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program that broadcasts a computer for inquiring a device that stores one piece of data in a network to which the device belongs, and a device that has response data for the inquiry from one device. The first response data receiving means for receiving the response data when it is transmitted, and when the response data for the inquiry has not been transmitted from any device, the transmission of the one data is requested. Transmission request data transmitting means for transmitting transmission request data to a relay apparatus, and second response data receiving means for receiving the one data transmitted from the relay apparatus as a response to the transmission request data It has a configuration.

According to the first, second, fourth, and seventh aspects, communication with the server when the terminal device acquires data stored in the server is reduced.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily determine whether the network to which one device belongs corresponds to the network to which the terminal device belongs as compared with the case where network identification data is not used.

The figure which shows the apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 10. FIG. The figure which shows the function implement | achieved in embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the relay apparatus 20. FIG. The figure which shows an example of storage location information. The figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the service provision apparatus. The figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the terminal device 40. The figure for demonstrating the 1st operation example of embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the 1st operation example of embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the 1st operation example of embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the 2nd operation example of embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the 2nd operation example of embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the 2nd operation example of embodiment.

(1. Embodiment)
(1-1. Overall configuration)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the number of each apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is not limited to one, Each may be provided with two or more. The communication network 50 is, for example, the Internet, and connects computer devices connected to the communication network 50 to each other. The communication network 50 is not limited to the Internet, and may include a LAN (Local Area Network), a telephone network, a mobile communication network, and the like. The image forming apparatus 10 (an example of one apparatus) generates an image data that is an example of an authentication function for authenticating a user, a copy function for copying a document, an optical reading of a document, and information representing an image of the read document Scanning function, image forming function for forming an image represented by data sent from a computer device, communication function for communicating with other computer devices via a communication network 50, and instructing other computer devices to process information It is a device with a function to perform.

  The relay device 20 has a function of transferring information transmitted from the image forming device 10 to the service providing device 30 (an example of a server device), a function of transferring information transmitted from the service providing device 30 to the terminal device 40, and the like. A computer device having a function of transferring information transmitted from a certain device to another device. The service providing device 30 is a computer device that provides a service that performs various processes on acquired information and outputs the processed information, or a service that stores information transmitted from other devices. The terminal device 40 (an example of a second terminal) is a computer device that receives various information transmitted from the relay device 20, and is a personal computer in the present embodiment. The terminal device 40 is not limited to a personal computer, and may be another computer device such as a smartphone as long as it is a computer device that communicates with another computer device via the communication network 50. The terminal device 40 stores a program for realizing a web browser, and accesses the relay device 20 using the web browser.

(1-2. Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus 10)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 10. The display unit 14 includes a display device, and displays an operation screen and a menu screen for operating the image forming apparatus 10. The operation unit 13 includes a plurality of buttons for operating the image forming apparatus 10 and a transparent pointing device provided on the surface of the display unit 14. The display device of the display unit 14 and the pointing device of the operation unit 13 cooperate to operate as a touch panel. The image forming apparatus 10 operates according to an operation performed with a button or a touch panel. The communication unit 18 is connected to the communication network 50 with a communication cable, and communicates with other devices connected to the communication network 50.

  The reading unit 15 includes an image reading device (not shown) that optically reads characters and figures formed on a sheet and generates image data representing the read image. The image data generated by the reading unit 15 is stored in the storage unit 12. The image processing unit 17 performs image processing such as color correction and gradation correction on the image data supplied from the storage unit 12. The image data subjected to the image processing is supplied to the image forming unit 16 or the storage unit 12.

  The image forming unit 16 forms a toner image on a sheet by electrophotography. Specifically, the image forming unit 16 forms a toner image on a sheet for each color of Y (Yellow), M (Magenta), C (Cyan), and K (Keytone: Black in the present embodiment). It has a unit. When forming an image on a sheet, image data that has been subjected to image processing in the image processing unit 17 is supplied to the image forming unit 16. The image forming unit 16 forms an image on a sheet with an image forming unit based on the supplied image data. The image forming unit 16 of the present embodiment is configured to form a color image with a plurality of color toners, but does not have an image forming unit that forms Y, M, and C toner images, and is a monochrome image. It may be configured to form an image. In this embodiment, an image is formed on a sheet using toner, but an image may be formed on a sheet using ink such as an inkjet method.

  The storage unit 12 includes a storage device (for example, a hard disk device) that holds data without supplying power. The storage unit 12 includes an identification data storage area 121 and a duplicate storage area 122. The identification data storage area 121 stores data (network identification data) for identifying the network (subnet) to which the image forming apparatus 10 belongs, and an identifier (device ID) for uniquely identifying the image forming apparatus 10. . In this embodiment, the IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) address and subnet mask of the image forming apparatus 10 are used as network identification data. The copy storage area 122 stores a copy of data transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 to the service providing apparatus 30.

  The control unit 11 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The ROM stores a program that realizes the above-described authentication function, copy function, scan function, image forming function, communication function, function for instructing the service providing apparatus 30 to process information, and the like. When the processor executes a program stored in the ROM, the various functions described above are realized.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing characteristic functions according to the present embodiment among the functions realized in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, in the image forming apparatus 10, the storage request data transmission unit 101 and the duplicate storage control unit 102 are realized by the control unit 11 executing the program. The storage request data transmission unit 101 transmits storage request data for requesting storage of data to the service providing apparatus 30 to the service providing apparatus 30 via the relay apparatus 20. The duplicate storage control unit 102 stores a duplicate of data to be transmitted to the service providing apparatus 30 in the duplicate storage area 122.

(1-3. Configuration of Relay Device 20)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the relay device 20. The communication unit 28 is connected to the communication network 50 via a communication cable, and communicates with other devices connected to the communication network 50. The storage unit 22 includes a hard disk device, and stores a program that realizes an operating system and a program that realizes a function of transferring information. The control unit 21 includes a processor such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. When the processor executes an IPL (Initial Program Loader) stored in the ROM, the program stored in the storage unit 22 is executed, thereby realizing the function of transferring the information described above.

  The storage unit 22 includes an identification data storage area 221, a storage location information storage area 222, and an authentication information storage area 223. The identification data storage area 221 stores network identification data and device ID notified from the image forming apparatus 10. The storage location information storage area 222 stores storage location information indicating a storage location of a file to be stored when the image forming apparatus 10 uses a storage service provided by the service providing device 30.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the storage location information stored in the storage location information storage area 222. As shown in the figure, in this area, items of “file storage destination information” and “replica file storage destination information” are stored in association with each other. Among these items, the “file storage location information” item stores information (file storage location information) indicating the storage location of the file in the service providing apparatus 30. In this embodiment, a URL indicating a file storage destination (hereinafter referred to as “storage destination URL”) is used as information indicating a file storage destination. For example, when the user 001 stores a file in the folder “xxx” in the area allocated for himself / herself of the service providing apparatus 30 called “Service-A”, an example of the storage destination URL is “http: //” Service-A / user001 / xxx ". In the item “duplicate file storage location information”, information (duplicate file storage location information) indicating the storage location of the duplicate file stored in the image forming apparatus 10 is stored. In this embodiment, a URL indicating the storage location of the duplicate file (hereinafter referred to as “replication storage location URL”) is used as the information indicating the storage location of the replication file. For example, the time when the user 001 performed a reading operation in the image forming apparatus 10 and the generated file was stored in the copy storage area 122 as a copy of the data transmitted to the service providing apparatus 30 by the copy storage control unit 102 If it is 9:30 on March 23, an example of the copy storage destination URL is “http: // user001 / 301301230930”.
The authentication information storage area 223 stores a pair of a user identifier for identifying a user and a password that are referred to when authenticating the user.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, when the control unit 21 executes the program, the storage request data receiving unit 201, the storage request data transmitting unit 202, the transmission request data receiving unit 203, and the response data transmitting unit 204 are displayed. Is realized. The storage request data receiving unit 201 receives storage request data for requesting data storage from the image forming apparatus 10. In response to the storage request data received by the storage request data receiving unit 201, the storage request data transmitting unit 202 transmits storage request data for requesting data storage to the service providing apparatus 30. The transmission request data receiving unit 203 receives transmission request data for requesting data transmission from the terminal device 40. When the network to which the image forming apparatus 10 belongs corresponds to the network to which the terminal apparatus 40 belongs, the response data transmitting unit 204 transmits apparatus identification data for identifying the image forming apparatus 10 to the terminal apparatus as a response to the transmission request data. . The response data transmission unit 204 receives data from the service providing device 30 when the network to which the image forming apparatus 10 belongs and the network to which the terminal device 40 does not correspond, and uses the received data as a response corresponding to the transmission request data. It transmits to the terminal device 40.

(1-4. Configuration of Service Providing Device 30)
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the service providing apparatus 30. The communication unit 38 is connected to the communication network 50 via a communication cable, and communicates with other devices connected to the communication network 50. The storage unit 32 includes a hard disk device, and stores a program for realizing an operating system, a function for performing various processes on acquired information, a program for realizing a function for accumulating acquired information, and the like. The control unit 31 includes a processor such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. When the CPU executes the IPL stored in the ROM, the program stored in the storage unit 32 is executed, and various functions according to the present embodiment are realized. The storage unit 32 has a data storage area 321. The data storage area 321 stores data transmitted from other devices.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the data storage unit 301 and the data transmission unit 302 are realized by the control unit 31 executing the program. The data storage unit 301 stores data transmitted from the relay device 20 in the data storage area 321. The data transmission unit 302 reads and transmits data from the data storage area 321 based on the transmission request data transmitted from the relay device 20.

(1-5. Configuration of Terminal Device 40)
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the terminal device 40. The display unit 44 includes a display device, and displays an operation screen and a menu screen for operating the terminal device 40. The operation unit 43 includes operation elements such as a keyboard and a mouse, and outputs operation information corresponding to a user operation. The terminal device 40 operates according to an operation performed using the operation unit 43. The communication unit 48 is connected to the communication network 50 with a communication cable, and communicates with other devices connected to the communication network 50. The storage unit 42 has a storage device (for example, a hard disk device) that holds data without supplying power. The storage unit 42 stores a program for realizing an operating system and a program for realizing a web browser. The control unit 41 includes a processor such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. When the CPU executes the IPL stored in the ROM, the program stored in the storage unit 42 is executed, and various functions according to the present embodiment are realized.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 3, when the control unit 41 executes the program, the broadcast means 401, the first response data receiving means 402, the transmission request data transmitting means 403, and the second response data receiving Means 404 are implemented. The broadcast means 401 performs a broadcast inquiring about a device storing one piece of data in the network to which the own device belongs. The first response data receiving unit 402 receives the transmitted response data when response data to the inquiry by the broadcast unit 401 is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10. The transmission request data transmission unit 403 transmits the transmission request data for requesting transmission of the one data to the relay device 20 when response data to the inquiry by the broadcast unit 401 has not been transmitted from any device. The second response data receiving unit 404 receives the one data transmitted from the relay device 20 as a response to the transmission request data.

(1-6. First Operation Example of Embodiment)
Next, a first operation example of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
(1-6-1. Image file storage operation)
First, a series of operations in which a user scans a document using the scan function of the image forming apparatus 10 and accumulates (stores) data obtained by the reading in the service providing apparatus 30 will be described with reference to FIG. To do. In this operation example, the image forming apparatus 10 and the relay apparatus 20 communicate using IPv4. In FIG. 8, the control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 notifies the relay apparatus 20 of the IPv4 address and subnet mask value of the own apparatus in advance (step S1). The control unit 21 of the relay apparatus 20 stores the IPv4 address and subnet mask value received from the image forming apparatus 10 in the identification data storage area 221.

  Now, the user sets an original on the reading unit 15 of the image forming apparatus 10, operates to instruct reading of the original, and inputs a file name (for example, “AAA”) to be given to image data indicating the read image. Are performed by the operation unit 13. The image forming apparatus 10 receives an instruction from the user based on the operation information output from the operation unit 13 (step S2). That is, the image forming apparatus 10 reads an image of a document based on the operated content, generates an image data file (hereinafter referred to as “image file”) representing the read image, and is input to the image file. The file name is assigned and stored in the storage unit 12. Although an example in which the user inputs a file name to be given to the read image data is described here, time information indicating the time when the reading unit 15 reads the document, a number for uniquely identifying the reading operation, A character string of information including a user identifier, the name of the image forming apparatus, and the like may be given as a file name.

  Next, the user performs an operation for instructing to store the image file stored in the storage unit 12 in the service providing apparatus 30. When an operation is performed by the user, the control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 first stores a copy of the generated image file (hereinafter referred to as a “copy file”) in the copy storage area 122 (step S3). In addition, the control unit 11 transmits the image file and the copy storage destination URL to the relay device 20 (step S4).

  When receiving the image file and the copy storage destination URL using the communication unit 28, the control unit 21 of the relay device 20 transfers the received image file to the service providing device 30 (step S5). When receiving the image file from the relay device 20, the control unit 31 of the service providing device 30 stores the received image file in the data storage area 321. Further, the control unit 31 transmits a storage location URL indicating the storage location of the image file to the relay device 20.

  When receiving the storage destination URL from the service providing apparatus 30, the control unit 21 associates the received storage destination URL with the duplicate storage destination URL and stores them in the storage destination information storage area 222 (step S6).

(1-6-2. Image File Acquisition Operation 1)
Next, the operation when the user acquires the image file stored in the service providing apparatus 30 will be described with reference to FIG. In the operation example illustrated in FIG. 9, the web browser of the terminal device 40 communicates with the relay device 20 using IPv4 and HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). FIG. 9 shows an operation example when it is determined that the terminal device 40 and the image forming apparatus 10 exist on the corresponding subnet.
In FIG. 9, first, the user starts the web browser by operating the terminal device 40, and inputs the URL of the web page of the relay device 20, the user identifier, and the password. The control part 41 of the terminal device 40 acquires the operation information output from the operation part 43, and receives browsing operation of a web page (step S7). The control unit 41 transmits an HTTP request for logging in to the relay device 20 to the relay device 20 based on the operation information output from the operation unit 43 (step S8-1). This HTTP request includes the user identifier and password input by the user.

  The control unit 21 of the relay device 20 authenticates the user by determining whether the combination of the user identifier and the password included in the HTTP request transmitted from the terminal device 40 is stored in the authentication information storage area 223. When the combination of the input user identifier and password is stored in the authentication information storage area 223, the control unit 21 permits login and transmits a response indicating that to the terminal device 40 (step S8-2). ).

  Here, when the user performs an operation for acquiring a list of image files stored in the service providing device 30 in the terminal device 40, the control unit 41 sends an HTTP request indicating a list screen acquisition request to the relay device 20. Transmit (step S8-3). When the control unit 21 receives an HTTP request from the terminal device 40 using the communication unit 28, the control unit 21 displays information representing a list screen of information (for example, image files) stored in the storage unit 22 in association with the user identifier of the user. It transmits to the terminal device 40 as an HTTP response (step S8-4). This information includes information such as the file name of the image file, the time when the image file was stored, and the storage URL of the image file. The control unit 41 of the terminal device 40 receives the HTTP response transmitted from the relay device 20 and displays a list screen on the display unit 44 based on information included in the received HTTP response. For example, the file name of the image file and the time when the image file was stored are displayed in association with each other.

  When the user performs an operation for requesting acquisition of an image file in a state where the list of information is displayed, the control unit 41 of the terminal device 40 sends an HTTP request indicating an acquisition request for the image file designated by the user to the relay device 20. (Step S9-1). The HTTP request includes an image file storage destination URL and an X-Forwarded-For field in which an IPv4 address indicating the transmission source IP address of the terminal device 40 is set.

  When the image file acquisition request is received from the terminal device 40 using the communication unit 28, the control unit 21 of the relay device 20 uses the terminal device 40 that is the acquisition request transmission source and the image file transmission source that is the acquisition target. It is determined whether a certain image forming apparatus 10 exists on the corresponding subnet (step S10). In this operation example, the control unit 21 determines whether the terminal device 40 and the image forming apparatus 10 exist on the same subnet in step S10. Specifically, in this operation example, the control unit 21 searches the X-Forwarded-For field in the HTTP request received from the terminal device 40, and the value set in the searched X-Forwarded-For field (that is, The portion indicated by the subnet mask is compared between the IPv4 address of the terminal device 40 and the IPv4 address of the image forming apparatus 10 stored in the identification data storage area 221. In this operation example, when the parts indicated by the subnet mask have the same value, it is determined that the terminal device 40 and the image forming apparatus 10 are on the same subnet. On the other hand, if the subnet masks are different, it is determined that they are not on the same subnet. In this embodiment, even when the HTTP request received in step S9-1 does not include the X-Forwarded-For field, it is determined that the request does not exist on the same subnet.

  If it is determined in step S10 that they are on the same subnet, the control unit 21 stores the copy storage location URL corresponding to the storage location URL included in the HTTP request received from the terminal device 40 in the storage location information storage area. The HTTP response is specified with reference to 222, and the specified copy storage URL is set in the Location field, and is transmitted to the terminal device 40 (step S11-A). When receiving the HTTP response from the relay device 20, the control unit 41 of the terminal device 40 sequentially interprets the codes included in the received HTTP response and executes processing corresponding thereto. At this time, the control unit 41 performs redirection processing when the Location field is included in the HTTP response. FIG. 9 shows an operation example when the terminal device 40 and the image forming apparatus 10 exist on the same subnet, that is, when the HTTP response includes a Location field and redirection is performed.

  When it is determined to perform the redirect process, the control unit 41 sets the URL set in the Location field of the received HTTP response in the GET method and transmits an HTTP request (step S13). When receiving the HTTP request using the communication unit 18, the control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 transmits a copy file stored in the copy storage destination URL specified by the received HTTP request to the terminal device 40 ( Step S14).

  In this operation example, when the image file is accumulated in the service providing apparatus 30, the image forming apparatus 10 accumulates a duplicate file of the image file in the own apparatus, and the terminal device 40 needs the image file. If the image forming apparatus 10 is on the same subnet as the terminal apparatus 40, the terminal apparatus 40 obtains a duplicate file of the image file from the image forming apparatus 10 instead of acquiring the image file from the service providing apparatus 30. get. Thereby, the communication load for the terminal device 40 to download the image file stored in the service providing device 30 is reduced.

(1-6-3. Image file acquisition operation 2)
Next, another operation when the user acquires files stored in the service providing apparatus 30 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 illustrates an operation example when it is determined in step S10 that the terminal device 40 and the image forming apparatus 10 are on the same subnet, while FIG. 10 illustrates the terminal device 40 in step S10. An example of operation when it is determined that the image forming apparatus 10 and the image forming apparatus 10 do not exist on the same subnet will be described. That is, the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 10 is different from the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 9 in that the processing after step S10 is different, and the processing before that is the same as that shown in FIG. Therefore, in the following description, the same processes as those in FIG.

  In step S <b> 10, when it is determined that the terminal device 40 and the image forming apparatus 10 are not on the same network, the control unit 21 of the relay apparatus 20 downloads the designated image file from the service providing apparatus 30. That is, the control unit 21 transmits a download request to the service providing apparatus 30 (step S15-1), and the control unit 31 of the service providing apparatus 30 transmits an image file to the relay apparatus 20 in response to a request from the relay apparatus 20. (Step S15-2). When the image file is received, the control unit 21 of the relay device 20 transmits an HTTP response including the received image file to the terminal device 40 as a response to the HTTP request received from the terminal device 40 (step S15-3). In this operation example, since it is determined in step S10 that the terminal device 40 and the image forming apparatus 10 are not on the same subnet, the Location field is not included in the HTTP response transmitted in step S15-3. .

  When receiving the HTTP response from the relay device 20, the control unit 41 of the terminal device 40 outputs the received image file by displaying an image represented by the received image file on the display unit 44. As described above, if the terminal device 40 that is the transmission source of the image file acquisition request and the image forming device 10 that is the transmission source of the image file are not on the same subnet, the image file is sent from the service providing device 30. Will be downloaded.

(1-7. Second Operation Example of Embodiment)
Next, a second operation example of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first operation example described above, the terminal device 40 communicates with the relay device 20 by HTTP communication using a web browser. In this operation example, the terminal device 40 uses a dedicated application (hereinafter referred to as a “dedicated application”). To communicate with the relay device 20. In FIG. 11 to FIG. 13, the same processes as those in the first operation example described above will be described with the same reference numerals.

(1-7-1. Image file storage operation)
First, a series of operations in which a user scans a document using the scan function of the image forming apparatus 10 and accumulates a file obtained by the reading in the service providing apparatus 30 will be described with reference to FIG. The control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 notifies the relay apparatus 20 of the device ID of the own apparatus in advance (step S21). This device ID is an identifier for uniquely identifying the image forming apparatus 10. Note that an IP address (IPv4 address or IPv6 address) assigned to the image forming apparatus 10 may be used as the device ID. The control unit 21 of the relay apparatus 20 stores the device ID received from the image forming apparatus 10 in the identification data storage area 221.

  Now, the user sets an original on the reading unit 15 of the image forming apparatus 10, operates to instruct reading of the original, and inputs a file name (for example, “AAA”) to be given to image data indicating the read image. Are performed by the operation unit 13. The image forming apparatus 10 receives an instruction from the user based on the operation information output from the operation unit 13 (step S2). That is, the image forming apparatus 10 reads an image of a document based on the operated content, generates an image file representing the read image, assigns an input file name to the image file, and stores it in the storage unit 12. Remember.

  Next, the user performs an operation for instructing to store the image file stored in the storage unit 12 in the service providing apparatus 30. When an operation is performed by the user, the control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 first saves a copy (copy file) of the generated image file in the copy storage area 122 together with a file ID that uniquely identifies the image file. (Step S3). Further, the control unit 11 assigns the above-described file ID to the image file and transmits it to the relay device 20 (step S24).

  When receiving the image file and the file ID using the communication unit 28, the control unit 21 of the relay device 20 transfers the received image file to the service providing device 30 (step S5). When receiving the image file from the relay device 20, the control unit 31 of the service providing device 30 stores the received image file in the data storage area 321. Further, the control unit 21 stores the storage destination URL and the file ID in association with each other in the storage destination information storage area 222 (step S26).

(1-7-2. Image File Acquisition Operation 1)
Next, the operation when the user acquires the image file stored in the service providing apparatus 30 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 illustrates an operation example in the case where it is determined in step S32 that the terminal device 40 and the image forming apparatus 10 are on the same subnet, whereas FIG. An operation example when it is determined that the apparatus 40 and the image forming apparatus 10 do not exist on the same subnet will be described.

  First, the user performs an operation of inputting a user identifier and a password using the operation unit 43 of the terminal device 40 in order to start the dedicated application and access the relay device 20. The control part 41 of the terminal device 40 acquires the operation information output from the operation part 43, and receives access operation (step S27). Based on the operation information output from the operation unit 43, the control unit 41 transmits a user identifier and a password to the relay device 20 to make a login request (step S28-1). The control unit 21 of the relay device 20 authenticates the user by determining whether the combination of the user identifier and password transmitted from the terminal device 40 is stored in the authentication information storage area 223. When the combination of the input user identifier and password is stored in the authentication information storage area 223, the control unit 21 permits login and transmits a response indicating that to the terminal device 40 (step S28-2). ).

  When the user performs an operation on the terminal device 40 to acquire a list of image files stored in the service providing apparatus 30, the control unit 41 transmits acquisition request data indicating a list screen acquisition request to the relay apparatus 20. (Step S29-1). When the acquisition request data is received from the terminal device 40 using the communication unit 28, the control unit 21 represents the list screen of information (for example, image files) stored in association with the user identifier of the user in the storage unit 22. Is transmitted to the terminal device 40 (step S29-2). The control unit 41 of the terminal device 40 receives the list screen data transmitted from the relay device 20 and displays the list screen representing the received data on the display unit 44. For example, the file name of the image file and the time when the image file was stored are displayed in association with each other.

  When the user performs an operation for requesting acquisition of an image file in a state where the list of information is displayed, the control unit 41 of the terminal device 40 indicates a request for acquiring the file ID and device ID of the image file specified by the user. The acquisition request data is transmitted to the relay device 20 (step S30-1). This acquisition request data includes the file name of the image file selected by the user. When the acquisition request data is received from the terminal device 40 using the communication unit 28, the control unit 21 of the relay device 20 transmits a file ID and a device ID corresponding to the received acquisition request data to the terminal device 40 (step). S30-2).

  When acquiring the file ID and the device ID, the control unit 41 of the terminal device 40 performs broadcast communication (step S31), and determines whether a device corresponding to the device ID exists on the same subnet (step S32). If it is determined in step S32 that a device corresponding to the device ID exists on the same subnet, the control unit 41 transmits an HTTP request to the image forming apparatus 10 identified by the device ID (step S33). This HTTP request includes a file ID corresponding to the image file to be acquired. On the other hand, if no response is received from any of the image forming apparatuses 10 within a predetermined time, the control unit 41 determines that there is no apparatus corresponding to the device ID on the same subnet. The operation when it is determined in step S32 that there is no device corresponding to the device ID on the same subnet will be described later with reference to FIG. When receiving the HTTP request using the communication unit 18, the control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 reads the duplicate file corresponding to the file ID specified by the received HTTP request from the duplicate storage area 122 and transmits it to the terminal device 40. (Step S34).

  In this operation example, as in the first operation example, when the image file is stored in the service providing apparatus 30, the image forming apparatus 10 stores a duplicate file of the image file in the own apparatus, and the terminal device 40 If the image forming apparatus 10 is on the same subnet as the terminal apparatus 40 when the image file is required, the terminal apparatus 40 can acquire the image file from the service providing apparatus 30 instead of acquiring the image file from the image forming apparatus 10. A duplicate file of the image file is acquired. Thereby, the communication load for the terminal device 40 to download the image file stored in the service providing device 30 is reduced.

(1-7-3. Image File Acquisition Operation 2)
Next, another operation when the user acquires files stored in the service providing apparatus 30 will be described with reference to FIG. The sequence diagram shown in FIG. 13 is different from the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 12 in that the processing after step S32 is different, and the processing before that is the same as that shown in FIG. Therefore, in the following description, the same processes as those in FIG.

  If it is determined in step S32 that the terminal device 40 and the image forming device 10 are not on the same network, the control unit 41 of the terminal device 40 transmits a download request including the file ID of the image file to the relay device 20. (Step S43). When receiving the download request using the communication unit 28, the control unit 21 of the relay device 20 specifies the storage destination URL corresponding to the file ID included in the received download request with reference to the storage destination information storage area 222, and The specified storage location URL is designated and an image file download request is transmitted to the service providing apparatus 30 (step S34-1). In response to the download request transmitted from the relay device 20, the control unit 31 of the service providing device 30 transmits the image file stored in the specified storage destination URL to the relay device 20 (step S34-2). When the image file is received, the control unit 21 of the relay device 20 transmits the received image file to the terminal device 40.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a copy of the image file requested by the terminal device 40 is stored in the image forming apparatus 10 on the same subnet as the terminal device 40, the terminal device 40 is a service providing device. No image file is downloaded from 30. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, for example, in a system in which charging is performed every time the service providing apparatus 30 is accessed, when the duplicate file is held in the subnet to which the terminal apparatus 40 belongs, the service providing apparatus 30. Since access to the file is not performed, the charge for downloading the file is reduced. In addition, for example, in a system in which an upper limit is set for the data transfer amount, if a duplicate file is held in the subnet to which the terminal device 40 belongs, downloading from the service providing device 30 is not performed, so service provision is provided. The amount of data transferred from the device 30 is reduced. Further, in the present embodiment, when the duplicate file is held in the subnet to which the terminal device 40 belongs, the service providing device 30 is not accessed, so the relay device 20 or the service providing device 30 related to file download is not performed. The processing load on is reduced.

(2. Modification)
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, It can implement with another various form. For example, the present invention may be implemented by modifying the above-described embodiment as follows. In addition, you may combine each of embodiment mentioned above and the following modifications.

(2-1) In the operation example 1 described in the above embodiment, the IPv4 address of the image forming apparatus 10 is used as the network identification data. However, the network identification data is not limited to this, and may be other data. . For example, an IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) address and a prefix length may be used as network identification data. In this case, the image forming apparatus 10 and the relay apparatus 20 communicate using IPv6. The control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 relays the IPv6 address and prefix length of the own apparatus instead of transmitting the IPv4 address and subnet mask of the own apparatus in the process of step S1 of FIG. 14 in the above-described embodiment. Notify the device 20. The control unit 21 of the relay apparatus 20 stores the IPv6 address and prefix length received from the image forming apparatus 10 in the identification data storage area 221.

  In this aspect, when the control unit 21 of the relay device 20 receives the image file acquisition request from the terminal device 40 using the communication unit 28 in step S10 of FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 described in the above-described embodiment, It is determined whether the terminal device 40 that is the acquisition request transmission source and the image forming apparatus 10 that is the acquisition target image file transmission source are on the same subnet. Specifically, the control unit 21 determines whether the HTTP request received from the terminal device 40 includes the X-Forwarded-For field, and if included, the value set in this field ( That is, the network address indicated by the prefix length between the IPv6 address of the terminal device 40 and the IPv6 address of the image forming apparatus 10 stored in the identification data storage area 221 is compared. If both network addresses are the same, it is determined that the terminal device 40 and the image forming apparatus 10 are on the same subnet. On the other hand, if the prefix lengths are different, it is determined that they do not exist on the same subnet.

(2-2) In the above-described embodiment, the IP address and the subnet mask of the image forming apparatus 10 are used as the network identification data. However, the subnet mask and the storage destination URL may be used as the network identification data. In this case, the control unit 21 of the relay apparatus 20 determines whether the image forming apparatus 10 and the terminal apparatus 40 are on the same subnet (step S10 in FIG. 9). About the part specified by specifying which part of the IP address indicates the subnet by the subnet mask of the image forming apparatus 10 by acquiring the IP address of the image forming apparatus 10 by sending the file storage URL to the DNS server The determination is made by comparing with the IP address of the terminal device 40. According to this aspect, even when the global IP address assigned to the image forming apparatus 10 is changed, the relay apparatus 20 needs to perform processing such as updating the IP address stored in the own apparatus. Absent.

(2-3) In the embodiment described above, a mechanism for synchronizing the image file stored in the service providing apparatus 30 and the image file stored in the image forming apparatus 10 may be employed. Specifically, for example, when the user performs an operation of editing / deleting an image file stored in the service providing device 30 using the terminal device 40, the service providing device 30 causes the relay device 20 to edit or delete the edited contents. The relay device 20 may send a notification to the image forming apparatus 10, and the image forming apparatus 10 may edit or delete the corresponding duplicate file according to the transferred notification. As another example, for example, when an edit / delete request is transmitted from the terminal device 40 to the service providing device 30 via the relay device 20, the control unit 21 of the relay device 20 is transmitted from the terminal device 40. Based on the incoming edit / delete request, a copy file edit / delete request stored in the image forming apparatus 10 may be transmitted to the image forming apparatus 10.

(2-4) In the embodiment described above, there are cases where it is desired to recover a file when an image file stored in the service providing device 30 is deleted by mistake. In this case, the duplicate file stored in the image forming apparatus 10 may be used for backup purposes. For example, the control unit 21 of the relay apparatus 20 may acquire a duplicate file of an image file that has been deleted by mistake in the service providing apparatus 30 from the image forming apparatus 10 and transmit it to the service providing apparatus 30.

(2-5) In the above-described embodiment, for example, when a file cannot be stored due to storage capacity limitation of the service providing apparatus 30, the file may be held in the image forming apparatus 10. In this case, for example, when it is necessary for the service providing apparatus 30 to delete a specific image file (for example, an image file whose usage frequency is low compared to other image files) due to insufficient storage capacity, the service providing apparatus 30. Notifies the relay device 20 of the file name of the image file to be deleted. In response to this notification, the relay device 20 refers to the storage location information (FIG. 5) stored in the storage location information storage area 222 and copies the image file based on the copy storage location URL corresponding to the image file to be deleted. The image forming apparatus 10 storing the file is specified. Next, the relay apparatus 20 transmits a protection request including the file name of the image file to be deleted to the identified image forming apparatus 10. In accordance with the protection request, the image forming apparatus 10 manages the duplicate file specified by the file name included in the protection request by adding a flag so as not to delete it without the permission of the relay apparatus 20. The relay device 20 deletes the file storage destination URL storage destination URL of the image file to be deleted notified to the relay device 20 from the storage destination information (FIG. 5) stored in the storage destination information storage area 222. In this case, the storage location information storage area 222 stores a copy storage location URL related to the image file to be deleted.
In the above-described aspect, the image forming apparatus 10 may not be deleted without permission of the relay apparatus 20.

(2-6) In the embodiment described above, the terminal device 40 acquires an image file that is an example of data, but the acquired data is not limited to an image file. The data acquired by the terminal device 40 may be other types of information such as text data, moving image data, and audio data.

(2-7) In the present invention, an apparatus for generating and storing a duplicate file is not limited to the image forming apparatus 10. For example, image data connected to a scanner apparatus and generated by the scanner apparatus is used. May be another type of data processing device such as a computer device that stores data.

(2-8) In the above-described embodiment, the control unit 21 of the relay device 20 refers to the IP address of the terminal device 40 included in the X-Forwarded-For field in the HTTP header, and Although it is determined whether the terminal device 40 exists on the same subnet, the method for determining whether the terminal device 40 exists on the same subnet is not limited to this. For example, the control unit 21 may refer to information included in another header field and determine whether or not the same subnet exists.

(2-9) In the above embodiment, as shown in step S33 of FIG. 12, the control unit 41 of the terminal device 40 determines that the terminal device 40 and the image forming apparatus 10 are in the same subnet. In this case, an HTTP request indicating an image file acquisition request is directly transmitted to the image forming apparatus 10. However, the relay apparatus 20 mediates the notification to the image forming apparatus 10, and the image forming apparatus 10 is a terminal device. The image file may be controlled to be transmitted to 40. In this case, the communication protocol used by each device may be an electronic mail protocol or a general communication protocol, or a unique communication protocol may be used.

  In the above-described aspect, when the image forming apparatus 10 transmits an image file to the terminal device 40, the relay apparatus 20 performs communication (that is, the relay apparatus 20 acquires an image file from the image forming apparatus 10). Or the image file may be transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10 to the terminal apparatus 40 without using the relay apparatus 20.

(2-10) In the above-described embodiment, the control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 stores the duplicate file in the storage unit 12 in the own apparatus, but the storage location of the duplicate file is a storage area in the own apparatus. The storage unit is not limited to the storage unit, and may be any storage unit that exists in the network to which the image forming apparatus 10 belongs, such as an external storage device or a storage device accessible via a subnet.

  In the above-described embodiment, the control unit 21 determines whether the terminal device 40 and the image forming apparatus 10 are on the same subnet (step S10 in FIG. 9), which is executed in step S10 in FIG. The determination process to be performed is not limited to that shown in the above-described embodiment. For example, a table indicating correspondence between a plurality of subnets (a table indicating correspondence between subnet identification data) is stored in advance in the storage unit 22 of the relay device 20, and the control unit 21 is stored in the storage unit 22. With reference to the table, it may be determined whether the subnet to which the terminal device 40 belongs and the subnet of the image forming apparatus 10 are associated with each other. In this case, when the subnet to which the terminal device 40 and the subnet to which the image forming apparatus 10 belong correspond to each other, the control unit 21 transmits the copy storage destination URL to the terminal device 40, while the two subnets do not correspond to each other. May download the image file from the service providing device 30 and transmit it to the terminal device 40.

(2-11) In the above-described embodiment, with respect to all the image files stored in the service providing apparatus 30, the image forming apparatus 10 that is the transmission source of the image file does not hold the duplicate file, but instead of the image file. Some of the image files may be configured not to hold the duplicate file in the image forming apparatus 10. For example, the control unit 11 may determine whether to hold the duplicate file based on the priority input by the user using the operation unit 13. As another example, for example, the control unit 11 may control to hold a duplicate file for an image file whose size satisfies a predetermined condition. Further, the duplicate file once held in the image forming apparatus 10 may be deleted according to a predetermined rule. For example, after holding a duplicate file, delete the duplicate file after a predetermined period of time, or delete a duplicate file whose usage frequency is lower than a predetermined threshold when the storage capacity of the image forming apparatus 10 is insufficient Such a configuration may be adopted. In these modified examples, the storage destination stored in the storage destination information storage area 222 for the image file for which the duplicate file has not been retained in the image forming apparatus 10 or the image file that has been retained but has been deleted. The storage location URL is stored in the information (FIG. 5), and the copy storage location URL is not stored.

(2-12) In the above-described embodiment, the service providing apparatus 30 determines the storage destination URL of the image file. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the storage destination URL of the image file is designated by the user and relayed from the image forming apparatus 10. It may be transmitted to the device 20. As another example, for example, the relay device 20 may determine the storage destination URL.

(2-13) The above-described program is stored in an optical recording medium (such as an optical disk), a magneto-optical recording medium, or a semiconductor such as a magnetic recording medium (magnetic tape, magnetic disk (HDD (Hard Disk Drive), FD (Flexible Disk))). It may be provided in a state stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a memory and installed in each device. Further, it may be downloaded and installed in each device via a communication network.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image forming apparatus, 20 ... Relay apparatus, 30 ... Service provision apparatus, 40 ... Terminal apparatus, 50 ... Communication network, 11 ... Control part, 12 ... Memory | storage part, 13 ... Operation part, 14 ... Display part, 15 ... Reading , 16 ... Image forming unit, 17 ... Image processing unit, 18 ... Communication unit, 101 ... Storage request data transmission means, 102 ... Copy storage control means, 121 ... Identification data storage area, 122 ... Copy storage area, 201 ... Storage Request data receiving means 202 ... Storage request data transmitting means 203 ... Transmission request data receiving means 204 ... Response data transmitting means 221 ... Identification data storage area 301 ... Data storage means 302 ... Data transmitting means 401 ... Broadcast Means 402... First response data receiving means 403... Transmission request data transmitting means 404.

Claims (7)

Storage request data receiving means for receiving storage request data for requesting storage of the one data from one device storing one data;
Storage request data transmission means for transmitting storage request data for requesting storage of the one data to the server device in response to the storage request data;
Transmission request data receiving means for receiving transmission request data for requesting transmission of the one data from the terminal device;
Response data transmitting means for transmitting device identification data for identifying the one device to the terminal device as a response to the transmission request data when the network to which the one device belongs and the network to which the terminal device belongs correspond to Relay device. Storage request data receiving means for receiving storage request data for requesting storage of the one data from one device storing one data;
Storage request data transmission means for transmitting storage request data for requesting storage of the one data to the server device in response to the storage request data;
Transmission request data receiving means for receiving transmission request data for requesting transmission of the one data from the terminal device;
When the network to which the one device belongs corresponds to the network to which the terminal device belongs, the terminal device receives the one data from the one device, and uses the received one data as a response to the transmission request data. A response data transmitting means for transmitting to the relay device. Accompanying transmission of the storage request data by the storage request data transmission means, data identification data for identifying the one data, first network identification data for identifying a network to which the one device belongs, and the one device Identification data storage instruction means for associating and storing in the storage device the device identification data for identifying the one device in the network to which the device belongs,
Identification data receiving means for receiving, from the terminal device, second network identification data for identifying a network to which the terminal device belongs;
In accordance with the transmission request data, the first network identification data stored in the storage device in association with the data identification data of the one data, and identification data acquisition means for acquiring the device identification data,
When the network identified by the first network identification data and the network identified by the second network identification data correspond to each other, the response data transmission unit includes the network to which the one device belongs and the terminal device The relay apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the relay apparatus determines that the network is compatible. Broadcast means for performing a broadcast inquiring of a device storing one data in the network to which the device belongs.
First response data receiving means for receiving the response data when response data to the inquiry is transmitted from one device;
A transmission request data transmission means for transmitting transmission request data for requesting transmission of the one data to a relay device when response data for the inquiry has not been transmitted from any device;
A terminal device comprising: second response data receiving means for receiving the one data transmitted from the relay device as a response to the transmission request data. Computer
Storage request data receiving means for receiving storage request data for requesting storage of the one data from one device storing one data;
Storage request data transmission means for transmitting storage request data for requesting storage of the one data to the server device in response to the storage request data;
Transmission request data receiving means for receiving transmission request data for requesting transmission of the one data from the terminal device;
When the network to which the one device belongs corresponds to the network to which the terminal device belongs, function as response data transmission means for transmitting device identification data for identifying the one device to the terminal device as a response to the transmission request data Program for. Computer
Storage request data receiving means for receiving storage request data for requesting storage of the one data from one device storing one data;
Storage request data transmission means for transmitting storage request data for requesting storage of the one data to the server device in response to the storage request data;
Transmission request data receiving means for receiving transmission request data for requesting transmission of the one data from the terminal device;
When the network to which the one device belongs corresponds to the network to which the terminal device belongs, the terminal device receives the one data from the one device, and uses the received one data as a response to the transmission request data. A program for functioning as response data transmission means to be transmitted to a computer. Computer
Broadcast means for performing a broadcast inquiring of a device storing one data in the network to which the device belongs.
First response data receiving means for receiving the response data when response data to the inquiry is transmitted from one device;
A transmission request data transmission means for transmitting transmission request data for requesting transmission of the one data to a relay device when response data for the inquiry has not been transmitted from any device;
A program for functioning as second response data receiving means for receiving the one data transmitted from the relay device as a response to the transmission request data.

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