Image processing device, external cooperation program and image processing system

Abstract

To provide an image processing device capable of reducing a possibility that information leaks, an external cooperation program and an image processing system.SOLUTION: An image processing device 30 acquires a token for a user acquired from an external storage system 50 of an apparatus cooperation system 40 cooperating with the image processing device 30 by the apparatus cooperation system 40 from the apparatus cooperation system 40 (S341 and S342), downloads print data in the storage system 50 from the storage system 50 by using the token without going through the apparatus cooperation system 40 (S343 and S346), and executes printing on the basis of the print data (S347).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 18

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that cooperates with an external system, an external cooperation program, and an image processing system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known an image processing system that includes an image processing device that generates scan data and a device linkage system that links with the image processing device, in which the image processing device uploads the scan data to a storage system external to the device linkage system via the device linkage system (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-114790 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in conventional image processing systems, the scanned data is stored in an external storage system via a device linkage system, which poses a problem that the scanned data may be leaked from the device linkage system.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing device, an external linkage program, and an image processing system that can reduce the possibility of information leakage. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The image processing device of the present invention is characterized in that it obtains from the device collaboration system a token for a user that has been obtained by the device collaboration system from a storage system external to the device collaboration system that collaborates with the image processing device, uses the token to download print data within the storage system from the storage system without going through the device collaboration system, and performs printing based on the print data.

[0007] With this configuration, the image processing device of the present invention obtains from the device collaboration system a token for the user that has been obtained by the device collaboration system from a storage system external to the device collaboration system, and uses the token obtained from the device collaboration system to download print data within the storage system from the storage system without going through the device collaboration system, thereby reducing the possibility of print data being leaked from the device collaboration system.

[0008] The image processing device of the present invention may identify the print data by searching the storage system via the device linkage system.

[0009] With this configuration, the image processing device of the present invention identifies print data by searching the storage system via the device linkage system. Therefore, if the configuration of the storage system is changed, and the configuration of the device linkage system is also changed, the print data can be identified by searching the storage system even if the configuration of the image processing device is not changed.

[0010] If the image processing device of the present invention fails to obtain the token from the device linkage system, it may ask the user whether or not they wish to download the print data from the storage system via the device linkage system, and if the user replies that they wish to download the print data from the storage system via the device linkage system, it may download the print data from the storage system via the device linkage system.

[0011] With this configuration, if the image processing device of the present invention fails to obtain a token from the device linkage system, it asks the user whether or not they wish to download print data from the storage system via the device linkage system, and if the user replies that they wish to download the print data from the storage system via the device linkage system, it downloads the print data from the storage system via the device linkage system, thereby improving convenience.

[0012] The image processing device of the present invention is an image processing device that generates scan data, and is characterized in that it obtains from the device integration system a token for a user that was obtained by the device integration system from a storage system external to the device integration system that cooperates with the image processing device, and uses the token to upload the scan data to a folder in the storage system without going through the device integration system.

[0013] With this configuration, the image processing device of the present invention obtains from the device collaboration system a token for the user that has been obtained by the device collaboration system from a storage system external to the device collaboration system, and uses the token obtained from the device collaboration system to upload scanned data to a folder in the storage system without going through the device collaboration system, thereby reducing the possibility of scanned data being leaked from the device collaboration system.

[0014] The image processing device of the present invention may identify the folder by searching the storage system via the device linkage system.

[0015] With this configuration, the image processing device of the present invention identifies a folder by searching the storage system via the device linkage system. Therefore, if the configuration of the storage system is changed, and the configuration of the device linkage system is also changed, the folder can be identified by searching the storage system even if the configuration of the image processing device is not changed.

[0016] If the image processing device of the present invention fails to obtain the token from the device linkage system, it may ask the user whether or not they wish to upload the scanned data to the folder via the device linkage system, and if the user replies that they wish to upload the scanned data to the folder via the device linkage system, it may upload the scanned data to the folder via the device linkage system.

[0017] With this configuration, if the image processing device of the present invention fails to obtain a token from the device linkage system, it asks the user whether or not they wish to upload the scanned data to a folder in the storage system via the device linkage system, and if the user replies that they wish to upload the scanned data to a folder in the storage system via the device linkage system, it uploads the scanned data to a folder in the storage system via the device linkage system, thereby improving convenience.

[0018] If the image processing device of the present invention fails to obtain the token from the device linkage system, it may ask the user whether or not they wish to upload the scanned data to a folder outside the storage system, and if the user replies that they wish to upload the scanned data to a folder outside the storage system, it may upload the scanned data to a folder outside the storage system.

[0019] With this configuration, if the image processing device of the present invention fails to obtain a token from the device linkage system, it asks the user whether or not they wish to upload the scanned data to a folder outside the storage system, and if the user replies that they wish to upload the scanned data to a folder outside the storage system, it uploads the scanned data to a folder outside the storage system, thereby improving convenience.

[0020] The image processing device of the present invention is an image processing device for generating fax reception data, The device is characterized in that a token for a user, which is acquired by the device linkage system from a storage system external to the device linkage system that links with the image processing device, is acquired from the device linkage system, and the received fax data is uploaded to a folder in the storage system using the token without going through the device linkage system.

[0021] With this configuration, the image processing device of the present invention obtains from the device collaboration system a token for the user that has been obtained by the device collaboration system from a storage system external to the device collaboration system, and uses the token obtained from the device collaboration system to upload received fax data to a folder in the storage system without going through the device collaboration system, thereby reducing the possibility of received fax data being leaked from the device collaboration system.

[0022] The external collaboration program of the present invention is an external collaboration program executed by an image processing device, and is characterized in that it causes the image processing device to obtain from the device collaboration system a token for a user that has been obtained by the device collaboration system from a storage system external to the device collaboration system that collaborates with the image processing device, uses the token to download print data in the storage system from the storage system to the image processing device without going through the device collaboration system, and causes the image processing device to perform printing based on the print data.

[0023] With this configuration, an image processing device executing the external collaboration program of the present invention obtains, from the device collaboration system, a token for the user that has been obtained by the device collaboration system from a storage system external to the device collaboration system, and uses the token obtained from the device collaboration system to download print data within the storage system from the storage system without going through the device collaboration system, thereby reducing the possibility of print data being leaked from the device collaboration system.

[0024] The external collaboration program of the present invention is an external collaboration program executed by an image processing device that generates scan data, and is characterized in that it causes the image processing device to obtain from the device collaboration system a token for a user that is obtained by the device collaboration system from a storage system external to the device collaboration system that collaborates with the image processing device, and uses the token to upload the scan data to the image processing device to a folder in the storage system without going through the device collaboration system.

[0025] With this configuration, an image processing device executing the external collaboration program of the present invention obtains from the device collaboration system a token for the user that has been obtained by the device collaboration system from a storage system external to the device collaboration system, and uses the token obtained from the device collaboration system to upload scanned data to a folder in the storage system without going through the device collaboration system, thereby reducing the possibility of scanned data being leaked from the device collaboration system.

[0026] The external linkage program of the present invention is an external linkage program executed by an image processing device that generates fax reception data, and is characterized in that it causes the image processing device to obtain from the device linkage system a token for a user that is obtained by the device linkage system from a storage system external to the device linkage system that links with the image processing device, and uses the token to upload the fax reception data to a folder in the storage system without going through the device linkage system.

[0027] With this configuration, an image processing device executing the external collaboration program of the present invention obtains, from the device collaboration system, a token for the user that has been obtained by the device collaboration system from a storage system external to the device collaboration system, and uses the token obtained from the device collaboration system to upload received fax data to a folder in the storage system without going through the device collaboration system, thereby reducing the possibility of received fax data being leaked from the device collaboration system.

[0028] The image processing system of the present invention comprises an image processing device and a device linkage system that links with the image processing device, wherein the device linkage system acquires a token for the user from the storage system by having the user log in to a storage system external to the device linkage system via the device linkage system, the image processing device acquires the token from the device linkage system, the image processing device uses the token to download print data from the storage system without going through the device linkage system, and the image processing device performs printing based on the print data.

[0029] With this configuration, in the image processing system of the present invention, the image processing device acquires from the device collaboration system a token for the user that is acquired by the device collaboration system from a storage system external to the device collaboration system, and the image processing device uses the token acquired from the device collaboration system to download print data in the storage system from the storage system without going through the device collaboration system, thereby reducing the possibility of print data being leaked from the device collaboration system.

[0030] The image processing system of the present invention comprises an image processing device that generates scan data, and a device linkage system that links with the image processing device, wherein the device linkage system acquires a token for the user from the storage system by having the user log in to a storage system external to the device linkage system via the device linkage system, the image processing device acquires the token from the device linkage system, and the image processing device uses the token to upload the scan data to a folder in the storage system without going through the device linkage system.

[0031] With this configuration, in the image processing system of the present invention, the image processing device acquires from the device collaboration system a token for the user that is acquired by the device collaboration system from a storage system external to the device collaboration system, and then uses the token acquired from the device collaboration system to upload scanned data to a folder in the storage system without going through the device collaboration system, thereby reducing the possibility of scanned data being leaked from the device collaboration system.

[0032] The image processing system of the present invention comprises an image processing device that generates received fax data, and a device linkage system that links with the image processing device, wherein the device linkage system acquires a token for the user from the storage system by having the user log in to a storage system external to the device linkage system via the device linkage system, the image processing device acquires the token from the device linkage system, and the image processing device uses the token to upload the received fax data to a folder in the storage system without going through the device linkage system.

[0033] With this configuration, in the image processing system of the present invention, the image processing device acquires from the device collaboration system a token for the user that is acquired by the device collaboration system from a storage system external to the device collaboration system, and then uses the token acquired from the device collaboration system to upload received fax data to a folder in the storage system without going through the device collaboration system, thereby reducing the possibility of received fax data being leaked from the device collaboration system. [Effects of the Invention]

[0034] The image processing device, the external linkage program, and the image processing system of the present invention can reduce the possibility of information leakage. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0035] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of the user terminal shown in FIG. 1 when configured as a PC. [Figure 3] 2 is a block diagram of an example of the image processing device shown in FIG. 1 when configured as an MFP. [Figure 4] 2 is a block diagram of an example of the device linkage system shown in FIG. 1 when configured by one computer. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of user management information shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of storage management information shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of the storage system shown in FIG. 1 when configured with one computer. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of user management information shown in FIG. [Figure 9] 4 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image processing system shown in FIG. 1 when a user logs in to the device linkage system from a user terminal. [Figure 10] 1 when the device cooperation system cooperates with a storage system. FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram of "logging in to the storage system" shown in FIG. [Figure 12] 2 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image processing system shown in FIG. 1 when a user logs in to the device linkage system from the image processing device. [Figure 13] 1 when the image processing device displays a list of folders in the device linkage system. FIG. [Figure 14] 1 when the image processing device displays a list of folders in a folder on a storage system. FIG. [Figure 15] 2 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image processing system shown in FIG. 1 when the image processing device executes printing based on print data downloaded from the device cooperation system. [Figure 16] 2 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image processing system shown in FIG. 1 when the image processing device executes printing based on print data downloaded from the storage system. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram of the "directly uncooperative printing" shown in FIG. [Figure 18]FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram of the "directly linked printing" shown in FIG. [Figure 19] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the image processing device shown in FIG. 3 when acquisition of a token from the device link system fails. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by the operation shown in FIG. 19. [Figure 21] 10 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image processing system shown in FIG. 1 when scan data generated by the image processing device is uploaded to the device linkage system. [Figure 22] 1 when scan data generated by the image processing device is uploaded to a storage system. FIG. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a sequence diagram of the "specific processing scan" shown in FIG. [Figure 24] FIG. 23 is a sequence diagram of the “direct cooperation unacceptable scan” shown in FIG. [Figure 25] FIG. 23 is a sequence diagram of the "directly linked scan" shown in FIG. [Figure 26] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the image processing device shown in FIG. 3 when acquisition of a token from the device link system fails. [Figure 27] FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by the operation shown in FIG. 26. [Figure 28] 1 when fax reception data generated by the image processing device is uploaded to a storage system. FIG. [Figure 29] FIG. 29 is a sequence diagram of the "directly uncooperative fax reception" shown in FIG. [Figure 30] FIG. 29 is a sequence diagram of the "directly linked fax reception" shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0037] First, the configuration of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0038] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image processing system 10 according to the present embodiment.

[0039] 1, the image processing system 10 includes a user terminal 20 used by a user. The image processing system 10 may also include at least one other user terminal similar to the user terminal 20. The user terminal may be configured, for example, by a PC (Personal Computer), a smartphone, or a tablet terminal.

[0040] The image processing system 10 includes an image processing device 30 used by a user. The image processing system 10 may include at least one other image processing device similar to the image processing device 30. The image processing device may be configured, for example, by an image forming device such as a dedicated printer or an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral), or by an image reading device such as a dedicated scanner or an MFP.

[0041] The image processing system 10 includes a device cooperation system 40 that cooperates with the image processing device. The device cooperation system 40 may be configured with one computer such as a PC, or may be configured with multiple computers. For example, the device cooperation system 40 may be configured on the cloud. The provider of the device cooperation system 40 may be the manufacturer of the image processing device.

[0042] The image processing system 10 includes a storage system 50 that stores data. The image processing system 10 may also include at least one other storage system similar to the storage system 50. The storage system may be configured with a single computer such as a PC, or may be configured with multiple computers. For example, the storage system may be configured on the cloud. The provider of the storage system does not have to be the manufacturer of the image processing device. The provider of at least one storage system may be different from the provider of at least one other storage system. For example, storage systems such as "Google (registered trademark) Drive" from Google LLC, "Box (registered trademark)" from Box, Inc., "Microsoft (registered trademark) OneDrive (registered trademark)" and "Microsoft SharePoint (registered trademark) Online" from Microsoft Corporation can be used.

[0043] The user terminal and the device linkage system 40 can communicate with each other via a network 11 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet. The image processing device and the device linkage system 40 can communicate with each other via the network 11. The image processing device and the storage system can communicate with each other via the network 11. The device linkage system 40 and the storage system can communicate with each other via the network 11.

[0044] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of the user terminal 20 when configured as a PC.

[0045] As shown in Figure 2, the user terminal 20 comprises an operation unit 21, which is an operation device such as a keyboard or mouse through which various operations are input; a display unit 22, which is a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information; a communication unit 23, which is a communication device that communicates with external devices via a network such as a LAN or the Internet, or directly via a wired or wireless connection without using a network; a memory unit 24, which is a non-volatile memory device such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores various information; and a control unit 25 that controls the entire user terminal 20.

[0046] The storage unit 24 can store a program for a web browser (hereinafter referred to as the "web browser program") 24a. The web browser program 24a may be installed in the user terminal 20 during the manufacturing stage of the user terminal 20, or may be additionally installed in the user terminal 20 from an external storage medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, or may be additionally installed in the user terminal 20 from a network.

[0047] The control unit 25 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and various data, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that serves as a memory used as a work area for the CPU of the control unit 25. The CPU of the control unit 25 executes programs stored in the storage unit 24 or the ROM of the control unit 25.

[0048] The control unit 25 executes the web browser program 24a to implement a web browser 25a.

[0049] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of the image processing device 30 when configured as an MFP.

[0050] As shown in Figure 3, the image processing device 30 is a computer that includes an operation unit 31, which is an operation device such as a button through which various operations are input; a display unit 32, which is a display device such as an LCD that displays various information; a printer 33, which is a printing device that prints images on a recording medium such as paper; a scanner 34, which is a reading device that reads images from a document; a communication unit 35, which is a communication device that communicates with an external device via a network such as a LAN or the Internet, or directly via a wired or wireless connection without using a network; a fax communication unit 36, which is a fax device that communicates with an external facsimile machine (not shown) via a communication line such as a public telephone line; a memory unit 37, which is a non-volatile memory device such as a semiconductor memory or HDD that stores various information; and a control unit 38 that controls the entire image processing device 30.

[0051] The storage unit 37 stores an external linking program 37a for linking with external systems such as the device linking system 40 and a storage system. The external linking program 37a may be installed in the image processing device 30 during the manufacturing stage of the image processing device 30, or may be additionally installed in the image processing device 30 from an external storage medium such as a USB memory, or may be additionally installed in the image processing device 30 from a network.

[0052] Control unit 38 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data, and a RAM as memory used as a work area for the CPU of control unit 38. The CPU of control unit 38 executes programs stored in storage unit 37 or the ROM of control unit 38.

[0053] The control unit 38 executes the external linking program 37a to implement an external linking unit 38a that links with an external system such as a device linking system 40 or a storage system.

[0054] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example of a device linkage system 40 configured by one computer.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 4, the device linkage system 40 includes an operation unit 41 which is an operation device such as a keyboard or mouse through which various operations are input; a display unit 42 which is a display device such as an LCD that displays various information; a communication unit 43 which is a communication device that communicates with external devices via a network such as a LAN or the Internet, or directly via a wired or wireless connection without using a network; a memory unit 44 which is a non-volatile memory device such as a semiconductor memory or HDD that stores various information; and a control unit 45 that controls the entire device linkage system 40.

[0056] The storage unit 44 can store a device collaboration program 44a for collaboration with the image processing device. The device collaboration program 44a may be installed in the device collaboration system 40 during the manufacturing stage of the device collaboration system 40, or may be additionally installed in the device collaboration system 40 from an external storage medium such as a USB memory, or may be additionally installed in the device collaboration system 40 from a network.

[0057] The storage unit 44 can store user management information 44b for managing users.

[0058] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the user management information 44b.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 5, the user management information 44b includes, for each user, a user ID as identification information of the user in the device linkage system 40, a password of the user in the device linkage system 40, and a token for each storage system for proving that the user's login is permitted, all of which are associated with each other. The user management information 44b also includes a token associated with a storage ID as identification information of the storage system. For example, the user management information 44b shown in FIG. 5 indicates that "a user with a user ID of 'U00001' has a password of '123456789', and at least token A of a storage system with a storage ID of 'S001' and token B of a storage system with a storage ID of 'S002' are managed by the device linkage system 40." Some information is omitted from the user management information 44b shown in FIG. 5.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 4, the storage unit 44 can store storage management information 44c for managing the cooperable storage systems.

[0061] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the storage management information 44c.

[0062] As shown in Fig. 6, the storage management information 44c includes, for each storage system, the storage ID of the storage system, the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the web page for logging in to the storage system (hereinafter referred to as the "storage system login page"), and direct linkability information indicating whether the storage system can be directly linked with an image processing apparatus. For example, the storage management information 44c shown in Fig. 6 indicates that "the storage system with the storage ID "S001" has the URL of the storage system login page "https: / / example.com / " and can be directly linked with an image processing apparatus." Some information is omitted from the storage management information 44c shown in Fig. 6.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 4, the memory unit 44 has a memory area for a user (hereinafter referred to as "user memory area") 44d. The memory unit 44 may have at least one other user memory area in addition to the user memory area 44d. The memory unit 44 has a user memory area for each user. The user memory area can store, for example, print data for the image processing device, data scanned by the image processing device (hereinafter referred to as "scan data"), and data received by the image processing device via fax (hereinafter referred to as "fax received data").

[0064] The control unit 45 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data, and a RAM as memory used as a work area for the CPU of the control unit 45. The CPU of the control unit 45 executes programs stored in the storage unit 44 or the ROM of the control unit 45.

[0065] The control unit 45 executes the device cooperation program 44a to realize a device cooperation unit 45a that cooperates with the image processing device.

[0066] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an example of a storage system 50 configured with one computer.

[0067] As shown in Figure 7, the storage system 50 includes an operation unit 51, which is an operation device such as a keyboard or mouse through which various operations are input; a display unit 52, which is a display device such as an LCD that displays various information; a communication unit 53, which is a communication device that communicates with external devices via a network such as a LAN or the Internet, or directly via a wired or wireless connection without using a network; a memory unit 54, which is a non-volatile memory device such as a semiconductor memory or HDD that stores various information; and a control unit 55 that controls the entire storage system 50.

[0068] The storage unit 54 can store a storage control program 54a for controlling data storage. The storage control program 54a may be installed in the storage system 50 during the manufacturing stage of the storage system 50, or may be additionally installed in the storage system 50 from an external storage medium such as a USB memory, or may be additionally installed in the storage system 50 from a network.

[0069] The storage unit 54 can store user management information 54b for managing users.

[0070] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the user management information 54b.

[0071] 8, the user management information 54b includes a user ID as identification information for the user in the storage system 50, a password for the user in the storage system 50, and a token for the user in the storage system 50, which are associated with each user. For example, the user management information 54b shown in FIG. 8 indicates that "a user with a user ID of 'User00001' has a password of 'abcdefg' and a token of 'token A'." Some information is omitted from the user management information 54b shown in FIG. 8.

[0072] 7, the storage unit 54 includes a user storage area 54c. The storage unit 54 may include at least one other user storage area in addition to the user storage area 54c. The storage unit 54 includes a user storage area for each user. The user storage area can store, for example, print data for the image processing device, scan data for the image processing device, and fax reception data for the image processing device.

[0073] The control unit 55 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data, and a RAM as memory used as a work area for the CPU of the control unit 55. The CPU of the control unit 55 executes programs stored in the storage unit 54 or the ROM of the control unit 55.

[0074] The control unit 55 executes the storage control program 54a to implement a storage control unit 55a that controls the storage of data.

[0075] Next, the operation of the image processing system 10 will be described.

[0076] First, the operation of the image processing system 10 when a user logs in to the device linkage system 40 from a user terminal will be described.

[0077] In the following, a case where a user uses the user terminal 20 will be described, but the same applies when a user uses a user terminal other than the user terminal 20.

[0078] FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image processing system 10 when a user logs in to the device linkage system 40 from the user terminal 20. As shown in FIG.

[0079] The user can instruct the web browser 25a of the user terminal 20 via the operation unit 21 of the user terminal 20 to access a web page for logging in to the device linkage system 40 (hereinafter referred to as the "linkage system login page").

[0080] When instructed to access the linked system login page, the web browser 25a accesses the linked system login page (S101).

[0081] When the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 receives the access in S101, the device linking unit 45a transmits data of the linking system login page to the web browser 25a of the user terminal 20 (S102).

[0082] When the web browser 25a of the user terminal 20 receives the data transmitted in S102, it displays the linked system login page on the display unit 22 of the user terminal 20 based on the received data (S103).

[0083] The linkage system login page is a web page into which the user can input the user ID and password of the user in the device linkage system 40. Therefore, the user can input the user ID and password of the user in the device linkage system 40 into the linkage system login page via the operation unit 21 of the user terminal 20, and then instruct the web browser 25a of the user terminal 20 to log in to the device linkage system 40 via the operation unit 21 of the user terminal 20.

[0084] When the web browser 25a of the user terminal 20 is instructed to log in to the device linkage system 40, the web browser 25a transmits a request to log in to the device linkage system 40 to the device linkage system 40 (S104). The web browser 25a includes the user ID and password entered on the linkage system login page in the request in S104.

[0085] When the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 receives the request in S104, it determines whether to permit login of the user based on the combination of the user ID and password included in the request in S104 (S105). If the combination of the user ID and password included in the request in S104 is included in the user management information 44b, the device linking unit 45a permits login of the user identified by the user ID included in the request in S104. On the other hand, if the combination of the user ID and password included in the request in S104 is not included in the user management information 44b, the device linking unit 45a does not permit login of the user identified by the user ID included in the request in S104.

[0086] If the device link unit 45a determines in S105 that the user's login is permitted, it transmits web page data indicating that the user's login is permitted to the web browser 25a of the user terminal 20 (S106).

[0087] When the web browser 25a of the user terminal 20 receives the data sent in S106, it displays a web page indicating that the user's login is permitted on the display unit 22 of the user terminal 20 based on the received data (S107).

[0088] If the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 determines in S105 that the user's login is not permitted, it transmits web page data indicating that the user's login is not permitted to the web browser 25a of the user terminal 20 (S108).

[0089] When the web browser 25a of the user terminal 20 receives the data sent in S108, it displays a web page indicating that the user's login is not permitted on the display unit 22 of the user terminal 20 based on the received data (S109).

[0090] Next, the operation of the image processing system 10 when the device cooperation system 40 cooperates with a storage system will be described.

[0091] In the following, a case where a user uses the user terminal 20 will be described, but the same applies when a user uses a user terminal other than the user terminal 20.

[0092] 10 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image processing system 10 when the device cooperation system 40 cooperates with a storage system. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram of "login to storage system" shown in FIG.

[0093] When a user has already logged in to the device linkage system 40 from the web browser 25a of the user terminal 20, the user can instruct the web browser 25a via the operation unit 21 of the user terminal 20 to display a web page listing storage systems with which the device linkage system 40 can link (hereinafter referred to as the "storage list page").

[0094] When an instruction to display the storage list page is given, the web browser 25a accesses the storage list page as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 (S121).

[0095] When the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 receives the access in S121, it transmits data of the storage list page to the web browser 25a of the user terminal 20 (S122).

[0096] When the web browser 25a of the user terminal 20 receives the data transmitted in S122, it displays a storage list page on the display unit 22 of the user terminal 20 based on the received data (S123).

[0097] The storage list page is a web page that shows a list of storage systems indicated in the storage management information 44c and allows the user to select from the list a storage system that the device linkage system 40 links with. Therefore, after the user selects a storage system that the device linkage system 40 links with on the storage list page via the operation unit 21 of the user terminal 20, the user can instruct the web browser 25a of the user terminal 20 to link with the selected storage system via the operation unit 21 of the user terminal 20.

[0098] When the user instructs the web browser 25a of the user terminal 20 to link with a storage system, the web browser 25a transmits a request for linking with the storage system instructed by the user to the device linking system 40 (S124).

[0099] In the following, we will explain the case where the storage system instructed by the user to collaborate is storage system 50, but the same applies when the storage system instructed by the user to collaborate is a storage system other than storage system 50.

[0100] When the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 receives the request in S124, it accesses the storage system login page of the storage system 50 (S125). The device linking unit 45a identifies the URL of the storage system login page of the storage system 50 based on the storage management information 44c.

[0101] When the storage control unit 55a of the storage system 50 receives the access in S125, it transmits data of the storage system login page of the storage system 50 to the device linkage system 40 (S126).

[0102] Upon receiving the data transmitted in S126, the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 generates a web page including a storage system login page for the storage system 50 based on the received data (S127).

[0103] When the process of S127 is completed, the device link unit 45a transmits the data of the web page generated in S127 to the web browser 25a of the user terminal 20 (S128).

[0104] When the web browser 25a of the user terminal 20 receives the data sent in S128, it displays a web page including the storage system login page of the storage system 50 on the display unit 22 of the user terminal 20 based on the received data (S129).

[0105] The storage system login page of the storage system 50 is a web page into which the user ID and password of the user for the storage system 50 can be input. Therefore, the user can input the user ID and password of the user for the storage system 50 into the web page displayed in S129 via the operation unit 21 of the user terminal 20, and then instruct the web browser 25a of the user terminal 20 to log in to the storage system 50 via the operation unit 21 of the user terminal 20.

[0106] When the web browser 25a of the user terminal 20 is instructed to log in to the storage system 50, it sends a request to log in to the storage system 50 to the device linkage system 40 (S130). The web browser 25a includes the user ID and password entered on the web page displayed in S129 in the request in S130.

[0107] When the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 receives the request in S130, it transmits a request to log in to the storage system 50 to the storage system 50 (S131). The device linking unit 45a includes the user ID and password included in the request in S130 in the request in S131.

[0108] When the storage control unit 55a of the storage system 50 receives the request in S131, it determines whether or not to permit the user to log in based on the combination of the user ID and password included in the request in S131 (S132). If the combination of the user ID and password included in the request in S131 is included in the user management information 54b, the storage system 50 permits the user identified by the user ID included in the request in S131 to log in. On the other hand, if the combination of the user ID and password included in the request in S131 is not included in the user management information 54b, the storage system 50 does not permit the user identified by the user ID included in the request in S131 to log in.

[0109] If the memory control unit 55a determines in S132 that the user's login is permitted, it generates a token to prove that the login of the user identified by the user ID included in the request in S131 is permitted (S133).

[0110] When the process of S133 is completed, the storage control unit 55a stores the token generated in S133 in the user management information 54b in association with the user ID included in the request in S131 (S134).

[0111] When the process of S134 ends, the storage control unit 55a transmits the token generated in S133 to the device linkage system 40 (S135).

[0112] When the device linkage unit 45a of the device linkage system 40 receives the token transmitted in S135, it associates the token transmitted in S135 with the user ID included in the request in S131 as a token for the storage system 50 and stores it in the user management information 44b (S136). Through the operations in S134 and S136, the linkage between the device linkage system 40 and the storage system 50 is completed.

[0113] When the process of S136 ends, the device link unit 45a transmits data of a web page indicating that the user's login is permitted to the web browser 25a of the user terminal 20 (S137).

[0114] When the web browser 25a of the user terminal 20 receives the data sent in S137, it displays a web page indicating that the user's login is permitted on the display unit 22 of the user terminal 20 based on the received data (S138).

[0115] If the storage control unit 55a determines in S132 that the login of the user is not permitted, it transmits a notification indicating that the login of the user is not permitted to the device link system 40 (S139).

[0116] When the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 receives the notification sent in S139, it sends data of a web page indicating that the user's login is not permitted to the web browser 25a of the user terminal 20 (S140).

[0117] When the web browser 25a of the user terminal 20 receives the data sent in S140, it displays a web page indicating that the user's login is not permitted on the display unit 22 of the user terminal 20 based on the received data (S141).

[0118] Next, the operation of the image processing system 10 when a user logs in to the device linkage system 40 from an image processing device will be described.

[0119] In the following, a case where a user uses the image processing device 30 will be described, but the same applies when a user uses an image processing device other than the image processing device 30.

[0120] FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image processing system 10 when a user logs in to the device linkage system 40 from the image processing device 30. In FIG.

[0121] A user can instruct the image processing device 30 to log in to the device linkage system 40 via the operation unit 31 of the image processing device 30 .

[0122] When instructed to log in to the device linkage system 40, the external linkage unit 38a of the image processing device 30 displays a screen for logging in to the device linkage system 40 (hereinafter referred to as the "linkage system login screen") on the display unit 32 (S161).

[0123] The linkage system login screen is a screen on which the user can input the user ID and password of the user in the device linkage system 40. Therefore, the user can input the user ID and password of the user in the device linkage system 40 into the linkage system login screen via the operation unit 31 of the image processing device 30, and then instruct the image processing device 30 to log in to the device linkage system 40 via the operation unit 31 of the image processing device 30.

[0124] When the external linking unit 38a is instructed to log in to the device linking system 40, the external linking unit 38a transmits a request to log in to the device linking system 40 to the device linking system 40 (S162). The external linking unit 38a includes the user ID and password entered on the linking system login screen in the request in S162.

[0125] When the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 receives the request in S162, it determines whether to permit login of the user based on the combination of the user ID and password included in the request in S162 (S163). If the combination of the user ID and password included in the request in S162 is included in the user management information 44b, the device linking unit 45a permits login of the user identified by the user ID included in the request in S162. On the other hand, if the combination of the user ID and password included in the request in S162 is not included in the user management information 44b, the device linking unit 45a does not permit login of the user identified by the user ID included in the request in S162.

[0126] If the device link unit 45a determines in S163 that the user's login is permitted, it transmits a notification indicating that the user's login is permitted to the image processing device 30 (S164).

[0127] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the notification sent in S164, it displays permission for the user's login on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30 (S165).

[0128] If the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 determines in S163 that the login of the user is not permitted, it transmits a notification indicating that the login of the user is not permitted to the image processing device 30 (S166).

[0129] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the notification sent in S166, it displays on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30 that the user's login is not permitted (S167).

[0130] Next, the operation of the image processing system 10 when the image processing device displays a list of folders and files in a folder on the device linkage system 40 (hereinafter referred to as a "folder list") will be described.

[0131] In the following, a case where a user uses the image processing device 30 will be described, but the same applies when a user uses an image processing device other than the image processing device 30.

[0132] FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image processing system 10 when the image processing device 30 displays a list of folders in the device linkage system 40. In FIG.

[0133] When a user has already logged in to the device linkage system 40 from the image processing device 30, the user can instruct the image processing device 30 via the operation unit 31 of the image processing device 30 to display a list of the folders in the root folder on the device linkage system 40.

[0134] When the external collaboration unit 38a of the image processing device 30 is instructed to display a list of the contents of the root folder on the device collaboration system 40, it requests the device collaboration system 40 to display a list of the contents of the root folder on the device collaboration system 40, as shown in Figure 13 (S181).

[0135] When the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 receives the request in S181, it sends to the image processing device 30 a list of folders in the root folder of the user's memory area in the device linking system 40 of the user who has logged in to the device linking system 40 from the image processing device 30, i.e., the root folder of the user's memory area that is associated in the device linking system 40 with the user ID of the user who has logged in to the device linking system 40 from the image processing device 30 (S182).

[0136] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the folder contents list sent in S182, it displays the received folder contents list on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30 (S183).

[0137] When a list of folder contents is displayed on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30, the user can select folders and files shown in the list of folder contents displayed on the display unit 32 via the operation unit 31 of the image processing device 30.

[0138] When a folder contents list is displayed on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30, the user can select a folder shown in the folder contents list displayed on the display unit 32, and then instruct the image processing device 30 via the operation unit 31 of the image processing device 30 to display the folder contents list of the selected folder. When the user instructs the image processing device 30 to display the folder contents list of the selected folder, the image processing system 10 executes the same processes as the processes of S181 to S183 for the folder contents list of the folder selected by the user, instead of the folder contents list of the root folder in the user storage area in the device collaboration system 40 of the user who has logged in to the device collaboration system 40 from the image processing device 30.

[0139] When a folder contents list of any folder lower than the root folder in the user storage area in the device collaboration system 40 of a user who has logged in to the device collaboration system 40 from the image processing device 30 is displayed on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30, the user can also instruct the image processing device 30 via the operation unit 31 of the image processing device 30 to display a folder contents list of a folder higher than the folder corresponding to the folder contents list displayed on the display unit 32. When the user instructs the image processing device 30 to display a folder contents list of a folder higher than the folder corresponding to the folder contents list displayed on the display unit 32, the image processing system 10 performs the same processes as those of S181 to S183 for the folder contents list of the folder higher than the folder corresponding to the folder contents list displayed on the display unit 32, instead of the folder contents list of the root folder in the user storage area in the device collaboration system 40 of the user who has logged in to the device collaboration system 40 from the image processing device 30.

[0140] Therefore, by repeating the above-described operation, the user can display on the display unit 32 a list of all folders in the user's own user storage area in the device linkage system 40.

[0141] Next, the operation of the image processing system 10 when the image processing device displays a list of folders in a storage system will be described.

[0142] The following description will be given assuming that a user uses image processing device 30, but the same applies when a user uses an image processing device other than image processing device 30. The following description will be given assuming that the storage system for which the image processing device displays a folder contents list is storage system 50, but the same applies when the storage system for which the image processing device displays a folder contents list is a storage system other than storage system 50.

[0143] FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image processing system 10 when the image processing device 30 displays a list of folders in the storage system 50. In FIG.

[0144] When a user has already logged in to the device linkage system 40 from the image processing device 30, and linkage between the device linkage system 40 and the storage system 50 has been completed, the user can instruct the image processing device 30 via the operation unit 31 of the image processing device 30 to display a list of folders in the root folder on the storage system 50.

[0145] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 is instructed to display a list of the contents of the root folder on the storage system 50, it requests the device linking system 40 to display a list of the contents of the root folder on the storage system 50, as shown in Figure 14 (S201).

[0146] When the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 receives the request in S201, it requests the storage system 50 to provide a list of folders in the root folder of the user's memory area in the storage system 50 for the user who has logged in to the device linking system 40 from the image processing device 30 (S202). The device linking unit 45a includes in the request in S202 a token for the storage system 50 that is associated in the user management information 44b with the user ID of the user who has logged in to the device linking system 40 from the image processing device 30.

[0147] When the storage control unit 55a of the storage system 50 receives the request in S202, it sends to the device linkage system 40 a list of folders in the root folder of the user's memory area in the storage system 50 for the user who has logged in to the device linkage system 40 from the image processing device 30, that is, the root folder of the user's memory area that is associated in the storage system 50 with the user ID that is associated in the user management information 54b with the token included in the request in S202 (S203).

[0148] When the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 receives the folder contents list transmitted in S203, the device linking unit 45a transmits the received folder contents list to the image processing device 30 (S204).

[0149] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the folder contents list sent in S204, it displays the received folder contents list on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30 (S205).

[0150] When a list of folder contents is displayed on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30, the user can select folders and files shown in the list of folder contents displayed on the display unit 32 via the operation unit 31 of the image processing device 30.

[0151] When a folder contents list is displayed on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30, the user can select a folder shown in the folder contents list displayed on the display unit 32, and then instruct the image processing device 30 via the operation unit 31 of the image processing device 30 to display the folder contents list of the selected folder. When the user instructs the image processing device 30 to display the folder contents list of the selected folder, the image processing system 10 executes the same processes as the processes of S201 to S205 for the folder contents list of the folder selected by the user, instead of the folder contents list of the root folder in the user storage area in the storage system 50 of the user who has logged in to the device linkage system 40 from the image processing device 30.

[0152] When a folder contents list of any folder lower than the root folder in the user's storage area in the storage system 50 of a user who has logged in to the device linkage system 40 from the image processing device 30 is displayed on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30, the user can also instruct the image processing device 30 via the operation unit 31 of the image processing device 30 to display a folder contents list of a folder higher than the folder corresponding to the folder contents list displayed on the display unit 32. When the user instructs the image processing device 30 to display a folder contents list of a folder higher than the folder corresponding to the folder contents list displayed on the display unit 32, the image processing system 10 performs the same processes as those of S201 to S205 on the folder contents list of the folder higher than the folder corresponding to the folder contents list displayed on the display unit 32, instead of the folder contents list of the root folder in the user's storage area in the storage system 50 of the user who has logged in to the device linkage system 40 from the image processing device 30.

[0153] Therefore, by repeating the above-described operation, the user can display on the display unit 32 a list of all folders in the user's own user storage area in the storage system 50.

[0154] Next, the operation of the image processing system 10 when the image processing device executes printing based on print data downloaded from the device linkage system 40 will be described.

[0155] In the following, a case where a user uses the image processing device 30 will be described, but the same applies when a user uses an image processing device other than the image processing device 30.

[0156] FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image processing system 10 when the image processing device 30 executes printing based on print data downloaded from the device cooperation system 40. In FIG.

[0157] When a user has already logged in to the device linkage system 40 from the image processing device 30, the user can select a file of print data stored in the device linkage system 40, as described above. After selecting print data stored in the device linkage system 40, the user can instruct the image processing device 30 to execute printing based on this print data (hereinafter referred to as "target print data" in the description of the operation shown in FIG. 15) via the operation unit 31 of the image processing device 30.

[0158] When an instruction to execute printing based on target print data is given, the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 requests the target print data from the device linking system 40, as shown in FIG. 15 (S301).

[0159] Upon receiving the request in S301, the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 transmits the target print data requested in S301 to the image processing device 30 (S302).

[0160] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the target print data transmitted in S302, it executes printing using the printer 33 based on the received target print data (S303).

[0161] Next, the operation of the image processing system 10 when the image processing device executes printing based on print data downloaded from the storage system will be described.

[0162] The following description will be given assuming that the user uses image processing device 30, but the same applies when the user uses an image processing device other than image processing device 30. The following description will be given assuming that the storage system in which the print data is stored is storage system 50, but the same applies when the storage system in which the print data is stored is a storage system other than storage system 50.

[0163] Fig. 16 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image processing system 10 when the image processing device 30 executes printing based on print data downloaded from the storage system 50. Fig. 17 is a sequence diagram of "printing not possible with direct cooperation" shown in Fig. 16. Fig. 18 is a sequence diagram of "printing possible with direct cooperation" shown in Fig. 16.

[0164] When a user has already logged in to the device linkage system 40 from the image processing device 30, the user can select a file of print data stored in the storage system 50, as described above. After selecting print data stored in the storage system 50, the user can instruct the image processing device 30 to execute printing based on this print data (hereinafter referred to as "target print data" in the explanation of the operations shown in FIGS. 16 to 18) via the operation unit 31 of the image processing device 30.

[0165] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 is instructed to execute printing based on the target print data, it inquires of the device linking system 40 whether the storage system 50 can directly link with the image processing device (S321), as shown in Figures 16 to 18.

[0166] When the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 receives the inquiry in S321, it notifies the image processing device 30 whether the storage system 50 can directly link with the image processing device based on the storage management information 44c (S322).

[0167] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 is notified in S322 that the storage system 50 cannot directly link with the image processing device, the external linking unit 38a requests the target print data from the device linking system 40 (S331).

[0168] When the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 receives the request in S331, it requests the target print data from the storage system 50 (S332). The device linking unit 45a includes in the request in S332 a token for the storage system 50 that is associated in the user management information 44b with the user ID of the user who has logged in from the image processing device 30.

[0169] When the storage control unit 55a of the storage system 50 receives the request in S332, if the target print data requested in S332 is not contained in the user memory area in the storage system 50 of the user who has logged in to the device linkage system 40 from the image processing device 30, i.e., the user memory area in the storage system 50 associated with the user ID that is associated in the user management information 54b with the token included in the request in S332, the storage control unit 55a notifies the device linkage unit 45a that the target print data requested in S332 cannot be sent (S333).

[0170] Upon receiving the notification in S333, the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 notifies the image processing device 30 of the failure to acquire the target print data from the storage system 50 (S334).

[0171] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the notification in S334, it displays on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30 a message indicating that the print execution has failed due to a failure to acquire the target print data from the storage system 50 (S335).

[0172] When the storage control unit 55a of the storage system 50 receives the request in S332, if the target print data requested in S332 is included in the user memory area in the storage system 50 of a user who has logged in to the device linkage system 40 from the image processing device 30, that is, the user memory area in the storage system 50 that is associated with the user ID that is associated in the user management information 54b with the token included in the request in S332, the storage control unit 55a sends the target print data requested in S332 to the device linkage unit 45a (S336).

[0173] When the device cooperation unit 45a of the device cooperation system 40 receives the target print data transmitted in S336, it transmits the received target print data to the image processing device 30 (S337).

[0174] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the target print data transmitted in S337, it executes printing using the printer 33 based on the received target print data (S338).

[0175] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 is notified in S322 that the storage system 50 can directly link with the image processing device, the external linking unit 38a requests a token for the storage system 50 from the device linking system 40 (S341).

[0176] When the device collaboration unit 45a of the device collaboration system 40 receives the request in S341, it sends to the image processing device 30 a token for the storage system 50 that is associated in the user management information 44b with the user ID of the user who has logged in from the image processing device 30 (S342).

[0177] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the token transmitted in S342, it requests the target print data from the storage system 50 (S343). The external linking unit 38a includes the token transmitted in S342 in the request in S343.

[0178] When the storage control unit 55a of the storage system 50 receives the request in S343, if the target print data requested in S343 is not contained in the user memory area in the storage system 50 of the user who has logged in to the device linkage system 40 from the image processing device 30, i.e., the user memory area in the storage system 50 associated with the user ID that is associated in the user management information 54b with the token included in the request in S343, the storage control unit 55a notifies the image processing device 30 that the target print data requested in S343 cannot be sent (S344).

[0179] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the notification in S344, it displays on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30 a message indicating that the print execution has failed due to a failure to acquire the target print data from the storage system 50 (S345).

[0180] When the storage control unit 55a of the storage system 50 receives the request in S343, if the target print data requested in S343 is included in the user memory area in the storage system 50 of a user who has logged in to the device linkage system 40 from the image processing device 30, i.e., the user memory area in the storage system 50 that is associated with the user ID that is associated in the user management information 54b with the token included in the request in S343, the storage control unit 55a transmits the target print data requested in S343 to the image processing device 30 (S346).

[0181] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the target print data transmitted in S346, it executes printing using the printer 33 based on the received target print data (S347).

[0182] The above description is based on the assumption that the image processing device 30 has successfully acquired the token transmitted from the device collaboration system 40 in S342. If the external collaboration unit 38a of the image processing device 30 fails to acquire the token from the device collaboration system 40, the external collaboration unit 38a may cancel the execution of printing based on the print data stored in the storage system, or may execute the operation shown in Fig. 19. Note that the external collaboration unit 38a of the image processing device 30 may determine that acquisition of the token from the device collaboration system 40 has failed if, for example, the external collaboration unit 38a is unable to acquire the token from the device collaboration system 40 within a specific time period after requesting the token from the device collaboration system 40 in S341.

[0183] FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the image processing device 30 when acquisition of a token from the device link system 40 fails.

[0184] As shown in FIG. 19, the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 displays a screen 60 (see FIG. 20) for asking the user about his / her preferences on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30 (S361).

[0185] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a screen 60 displayed by the operation shown in FIG.

[0186] The screen 60 shown in Figure 20 includes a message 61 indicating failure to obtain a token for the storage system 50 from the device linkage system 40, an indirect linkage button 62 to be pressed by the user when the user wishes to download print data from the storage system 50 via the device linkage system 40, and a print cancel button 63 to cancel printing based on the print data stored in the storage system 50.

[0187] As shown in FIG. 19, when the process of S361 ends, the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 determines whether the indirect linking button 62 has been pressed (S362).

[0188] If the external linking unit 38a determines in S362 that the indirect linking button 62 has not been pressed, it determines whether the print cancel button 63 has been pressed (S363).

[0189] If the external linking unit 38a determines in S363 that the print cancel button 63 has not been pressed, it executes the process of S362.

[0190] If the external linking unit 38a determines in S362 that the indirect linking button 62 has been pressed, it executes processing for downloading print data from the storage system 50 via the device linking system 40 (S364). Specifically, the external linking unit 38a executes the processing of S331 (see FIG. 17). Therefore, the image processing system 10 executes the processing of S331 to S338 (see FIG. 17).

[0191] If the external linking unit 38a determines in S363 that the print stop button 63 has been pressed, it stops the execution of printing based on the print data stored in the storage system (S365).

[0192] When the process of S364 or S365 ends, the external linking unit 38a ends the operation shown in FIG.

[0193] Next, the operation of the image processing system 10 when the scan data generated by the image processing device is uploaded to the device linkage system 40 will be described.

[0194] In the following, a case where a user uses the image processing device 30 will be described, but the same applies when a user uses an image processing device other than the image processing device 30.

[0195] FIG. 21 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image processing system 10 when scan data generated by the image processing device 30 is uploaded to the device linkage system 40.

[0196] When a user has already logged in to the device linkage system 40 from the image processing device 30, the user can select a folder stored in the device linkage system 40 as described above. After selecting a folder stored in the device linkage system 40, the user can instruct the image processing device 30 via the operation unit 31 of the image processing device 30 to execute a scan to upload scan data to this folder (hereinafter referred to as the "target folder" in the description of the operation shown in FIG. 21). Note that the user can also instruct the image processing device 30 via the operation unit 31 of the image processing device 30 to apply specific processing to the scan data when it is uploaded. Here, the specific processing is, for example, processing to add a watermark to the image represented by the scan data.

[0197] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 is instructed to perform a scan to upload scanned data to a target folder, the external linking unit 38a generates scanned data by reading an image from a document using the scanner 34, as shown in FIG. 21 (S401).

[0198] When the processing of S401 is completed, if the user has instructed that specific processing be performed on the scan data generated in S401, the external linking unit 38a requests the device linking system 40 to perform specific processing on the scan data generated in S401 and store it in the target folder (S402).

[0199] Upon receiving the request in S402, the device collaboration unit 45a of the device collaboration system 40 performs specific processing on the scan data included in the request in S402, as requested in S402 (S403).

[0200] When the process of S403 is completed, the device linking unit 45a stores the scan data that has been subjected to the specific processing in S403 in the target folder (S404).

[0201] When the process of S404 is completed, the device link unit 45a notifies the image processing device 30 of the completion of uploading the scan data to the target folder (S405).

[0202] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the notification in S405, it displays the completion of uploading the scan data to the target folder on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30 (S406).

[0203] When the processing of S401 is completed, if the user has not instructed that the scan data generated in S401 be subjected to specific processing, the external linking unit 38a requests the device linking system 40 to store the scan data generated in S401 in the target folder (S407).

[0204] Upon receiving the request in S407, the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 stores the scan data in the target folder as requested in S407 (S408).

[0205] When the process of S408 is completed, the device link unit 45a notifies the image processing device 30 of the completion of uploading the scan data to the target folder (S409).

[0206] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the notification in S409, it displays the completion of uploading the scan data to the target folder on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30 (S410).

[0207] Next, the operation of the image processing system 10 when the scan data generated by the image processing device is uploaded to the storage system will be described.

[0208] The following description will be given assuming that a user uses image processing device 30, but the same applies when a user uses an image processing device other than image processing device 30. The following description will be given assuming that the storage system that stores the scan data is storage system 50, but the same applies when the storage system that stores the scan data is a storage system other than storage system 50.

[0209] Fig. 22 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image processing system 10 when scan data generated by the image processing device 30 is uploaded to the storage system 50. Fig. 23 is a sequence diagram of the "specific processing scan" shown in Fig. 22. Fig. 24 is a sequence diagram of the "direct cooperation not possible scan" shown in Fig. 22. Fig. 25 is a sequence diagram of the "direct cooperation possible scan" shown in Fig. 22.

[0210] When a user has already logged in to the device linkage system 40 from the image processing device 30, the user can select a folder stored in the storage system 50 as described above. After selecting a folder stored in the storage system 50, the user can instruct the image processing device 30 via the operation unit 31 of the image processing device 30 to execute a scan to upload scan data to this folder (hereinafter referred to as the "target folder" in the explanation of the operations shown in FIGS. 22 to 25). Note that the user can also instruct the image processing device 30 via the operation unit 31 of the image processing device 30 to apply specific processing to the scan data when it is uploaded. Here, the specific processing is, for example, processing to add a watermark to the image represented by the scan data.

[0211] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 is instructed to perform a scan to upload scanned data to a target folder, the external linking unit 38a generates scanned data by reading an image from a document using the scanner 34, as shown in Figures 22 to 25 (S431).

[0212] When the process of S431 ends, the external linking unit 38a inquires of the device linking system 40 whether or not the storage system 50 can directly link with the image processing device (S432).

[0213] When the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 receives the inquiry in S432, it notifies the image processing device 30 whether the storage system 50 can directly link with the image processing device based on the storage management information 44c (S433).

[0214] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 is notified in S433 that the storage system 50 cannot directly link with the image processing device, and if the user has instructed that specific processing be performed on the scan data generated in S431, the external linking unit 38a requests the device linking system 40 to perform specific processing on the scan data generated in S431 and store it in the target folder (S441).

[0215] Upon receiving the request in S441, the device collaboration unit 45a of the device collaboration system 40 performs specific processing on the scan data included in the request in S441, as requested in S441 (S442).

[0216] When the process of S442 is completed, the device linking unit 45a requests the storage system 50 to store the scan data that has been subjected to the specific processing in S442 in the target folder (S443). The device linking unit 45a includes in the request of S443 a token for the storage system 50 that is associated in the user management information 44b with the user ID of the user who has logged in from the image processing device 30.

[0217] When the storage control unit 55a of the storage system 50 receives the request in S443, if the target folder indicated in the request in S443 is not included in the user memory area in the storage system 50 of the user who has logged in to the device linkage system 40 from the image processing device 30, i.e., the user memory area in the storage system 50 associated with the user ID that is associated in the user management information 54b with the token included in the request in S443, the storage control unit 55a notifies the device linkage unit 45a of the failure to upload the scanned data to the target folder (S444).

[0218] Upon receiving the notification in S444, the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 notifies the image processing device 30 of the failure in uploading the scan data to the target folder (S445).

[0219] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the notification in S445, it displays a message on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30 indicating that the upload of the scan data to the target folder has failed (S446).

[0220] When the storage control unit 55a of the storage system 50 receives the request in S443, if the target folder indicated in the request in S443 is included in the user memory area in the storage system 50 of the user who has logged in to the device linkage system 40 from the image processing device 30, that is, the user memory area in the storage system 50 that is associated with the user ID that is associated in the user management information 54b with the token included in the request in S443, the storage control unit 55a stores the scanned data indicated in the request in S443 in the target folder (S447).

[0221] When the process of S447 is completed, the storage control unit 55a notifies the device link system 40 of the completion of uploading the scan data to the target folder (S448).

[0222] When the process of S448 is completed, the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 notifies the image processing device 30 of the completion of uploading the scan data to the target folder (S449).

[0223] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the notification in S449, it displays the completion of uploading the scan data to the target folder on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30 (S450).

[0224] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 is notified in S433 that the storage system 50 cannot directly link with the image processing device, and the user has not instructed that specific processing be performed on the scan data generated in S431, the external linking unit 38a requests the device linking system 40 to store the scan data generated in S431 in the target folder (S451).

[0225] When the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 receives the request in S451, it requests the storage system 50 to store the scan data included in the request in S451 in a target folder (S452). The device linking unit 45a includes in the request in S452 a token for the storage system 50 that is associated in the user management information 44b with the user ID of the user who has logged in from the image processing device 30.

[0226] When the storage control unit 55a of the storage system 50 receives the request in S452, if the target folder indicated in the request in S452 is not included in the user memory area in the storage system 50 of the user who has logged in to the device linkage system 40 from the image processing device 30, i.e., the user memory area in the storage system 50 associated with the user ID that is associated in the user management information 54b with the token included in the request in S452, the storage control unit 55a notifies the device linkage unit 45a of the failure to upload the scanned data to the target folder (S453).

[0227] Upon receiving the notification in S453, the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 notifies the image processing device 30 of the failure in uploading the scan data to the target folder (S454).

[0228] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the notification in S454, it displays a failure in uploading the scan data to the target folder on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30 (S455).

[0229] When the storage control unit 55a of the storage system 50 receives the request in S452, if the target folder indicated in the request in S452 is included in the user memory area in the storage system 50 of the user who has logged in to the device linkage system 40 from the image processing device 30, that is, the user memory area in the storage system 50 that is associated with the user ID that is associated in the user management information 54b with the token included in the request in S452, the storage control unit 55a stores the scanned data indicated in the request in S452 in the target folder (S456).

[0230] When the process of S456 ends, the storage control unit 55a notifies the device linkage system 40 of the completion of uploading the scan data to the target folder (S457).

[0231] When the process of S457 is completed, the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 notifies the image processing device 30 of the completion of uploading the scan data to the target folder (S458).

[0232] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the notification in S458, it displays on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30 the completion of uploading the scan data to the target folder (S459).

[0233] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 is notified in S433 that the storage system 50 can directly link with the image processing device, and when the user instructs that specific processing be performed on the scan data generated in S431, the external linking unit 38a executes the processes of S441 to S450.

[0234] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 is notified in S433 that the storage system 50 can directly link with the image processing device, and if the user has not instructed that specific processing be performed on the scan data generated in S431, the external linking unit 38a requests a token for the storage system 50 from the device linking system 40 (S461).

[0235] When the device collaboration unit 45a of the device collaboration system 40 receives the request in S461, it sends to the image processing device 30 a token for the storage system 50 that is associated in the user management information 44b with the user ID of the user who has logged in from the image processing device 30 (S462).

[0236] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the token transmitted in S462, it requests the storage system 50 to store the scan data generated in S431 in the target folder (S463). The external linking unit 38a includes the token transmitted in S462 in the request in S463.

[0237] When the storage control unit 55a of the storage system 50 receives the request in S463, if the target folder indicated in the request in S463 is not included in the user memory area in the storage system 50 of the user who has logged in to the device linkage system 40 from the image processing device 30, i.e., the user memory area in the storage system 50 associated with the user ID that is associated in the user management information 54b with the token included in the request in S463, the storage control unit 55a notifies the image processing device 30 of the failure to upload the scanned data to the target folder (S464).

[0238] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the notification in S464, it displays a failure in uploading the scan data to the target folder on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30 (S465).

[0239] When the storage control unit 55a of the storage system 50 receives the request in S463, if the target folder indicated in the request in S463 is included in the user memory area in the storage system 50 of the user who has logged in to the device linkage system 40 from the image processing device 30, that is, the user memory area in the storage system 50 that is associated with the user ID that is associated in the user management information 54b with the token included in the request in S463, the storage control unit 55a stores the scanned data indicated in the request in S463 in the target folder (S466).

[0240] When the process of S466 is completed, the storage control unit 55a notifies the image processing device 30 of the completion of uploading the scan data to the target folder (S467).

[0241] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the notification in S467, it displays on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30 the completion of uploading the scan data to the target folder (S468).

[0242] The above description is based on the assumption that the image processing device 30 has successfully acquired the token transmitted from the device linkage system 40 in S462. If the external linkage unit 38a of the image processing device 30 has failed to acquire the token from the device linkage system 40, the external linkage unit 38a may cancel the upload of the scanned data to the target folder or may execute the operation shown in Fig. 26. Note that the external linkage unit 38a of the image processing device 30 may determine that acquisition of the token from the device linkage system 40 has failed if, for example, the external linkage unit 38a of the image processing device 30 has not been able to acquire the token from the device linkage system 40 within a specific time period since the external linkage unit 38a requested the token from the device linkage system 40 in S461.

[0243] FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the image processing device 30 when acquisition of a token from the device link system 40 fails.

[0244] As shown in FIG. 26, the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 displays a screen 70 (see FIG. 27) for asking the user about his / her preferences on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30 (S481).

[0245] FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of a screen 70 displayed by the operation shown in FIG.

[0246] The screen 70 shown in Figure 27 includes a message 71 indicating failure to obtain a token for the storage system 50 from the device linkage system 40, an indirect linkage button 72 to be pressed by the user if the user wishes to upload scanned data to the target folder via the device linkage system 40, a change upload destination button 73 to be pressed by the user if the user wishes to change the upload destination of the scanned data to a folder outside the storage system 50, and a cancel upload button 74 to cancel the upload of the scanned data to the target folder.

[0247] As shown in FIG. 26, when the process of S481 ends, the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 determines whether the indirect linking button 72 has been pressed (S482).

[0248] If the external linking unit 38a determines in S482 that the indirect linking button 72 has not been pressed, it determines whether the change upload destination button 73 has been pressed (S483).

[0249] If the external linking unit 38a determines in S483 that the change upload destination button 73 has not been pressed, it determines whether the cancel upload button 74 has been pressed (S484).

[0250] If the external linking unit 38a determines in S484 that the upload stop button 74 has not been pressed, it executes the process of S482.

[0251] When the external linking unit 38a determines in S482 that the indirect linking button 72 has been pressed, it executes processing for uploading the scan data to the target folder via the device linking system 40 (S485). Specifically, the external linking unit 38a executes the processing of S451 (see FIG. 24). Therefore, the image processing system 10 executes the processing of S451 to S459 (see FIG. 24).

[0252] When the external linking unit 38a determines in S483 that the change upload destination button 73 has been pressed, it executes processing to change the upload destination of the scan data to a folder outside the storage system 50 (S486). Specifically, as described above, the external linking unit 38a prompts the user to select a folder stored in the device linking system 40 or a folder stored in a storage system other than the storage system 50 as the new upload destination of the scan data. Then, when a folder stored in the device linking system 40 is selected as the new upload destination of the scan data and a specific processing instruction is given, the external linking unit 38a executes processing of S402 (see FIG. 21). Therefore, the image processing system 10 executes processing of S402 to S406 (see FIG. 21). Furthermore, when a folder stored in the device linking system 40 is selected as the new upload destination of the scan data and a specific processing instruction is not given, the external linking unit 38a executes processing of S407 (see FIG. 21). Therefore, the image processing system 10 executes the processes of S407 to S410 (see FIG. 21). Furthermore, when a folder stored in a storage system other than the storage system 50 is selected as a new upload destination for the scan data, the external linking unit 38a executes the process of S432 (see FIG. 22). Therefore, the image processing system 10 executes the processes of S432 to S468 (see FIGS. 22 to 25).

[0253] If the external linking unit 38a determines in S484 that the upload stop button 74 has been pressed, it stops uploading the scan data to the target folder (S487).

[0254] When the processes of S485 to S487 are completed, the external linking unit 38a ends the operation shown in FIG.

[0255] Next, the operation of the image processing system 10 when receiving fax data generated by the image processing device is uploaded to the storage system will be described.

[0256] The following description will be given assuming that the user uses image processing device 30, but the same applies when the user uses an image processing device other than image processing device 30. The following description will be given assuming that the storage system that stores received fax data is storage system 50, but the same applies when the storage system that stores received fax data is a storage system other than storage system 50.

[0257] Fig. 28 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image processing system 10 when fax reception data generated by the image processing device 30 is uploaded to the storage system 50. Fig. 29 is a sequence diagram of "fax reception not possible with direct collaboration" shown in Fig. 28. Fig. 30 is a sequence diagram of "fax reception possible with direct collaboration" shown in Fig. 28.

[0258] When a user has already logged in to the device linkage system 40 from the image processing device 30, the user can select a folder stored in the storage system 50 as described above. After selecting a folder stored in the storage system 50, the user can set this folder (hereinafter referred to as the "target folder" in the description of the operations shown in FIGS. 28 to 30) as the upload destination for received fax data generated by the image processing device 30. When the target folder is set as the upload destination for received fax data generated by the image processing device 30, the image processing system 10 executes the operations shown in FIGS. 28 to 30.

[0259] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives a fax communication from an external facsimile device (not shown) via the fax communication unit 36 ​​and the fax reception data is generated by the fax communication unit 36, as shown in Figures 28 to 30, the external linking unit 38a inquires of the device linking system 40 whether the storage system 50 can directly link with the image processing device (S501).

[0260] When the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 receives the inquiry in S501, it notifies the image processing device 30 whether the storage system 50 can directly link with the image processing device based on the storage management information 44c (S502).

[0261] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 is notified in S502 that the storage system 50 cannot directly link with the image processing device, the external linking unit 38a requests the device linking system 40 to store the fax reception data generated by the fax communication unit 36 ​​in the target folder (S511).

[0262] When the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 receives the request in S511, it requests the storage system 50 to store the received fax data included in the request in S511 in a target folder (S512). The device linking unit 45a includes in the request in S512 a token for the storage system 50 that is associated in the user management information 44b with the user ID of the user who set the target folder as the upload destination for the received fax data generated by the image processing device 30.

[0263] When the storage control unit 55a of the storage system 50 receives the request in S512, if the target folder indicated in the request in S512 is not included in the user memory area in the storage system 50 of the user who set the target folder as the upload destination for the received fax data generated by the image processing device 30, i.e., the user memory area in the storage system 50 associated with the user ID associated in the user management information 54b with the token included in the request in S512, the storage control unit 55a notifies the device linkage unit 45a of the failure to upload the received fax data to the target folder (S513).

[0264] Upon receiving the notification in S513, the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 notifies the image processing device 30 of the failure in uploading the received fax data to the target folder (S514).

[0265] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the notification in S514, it displays on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30 a message indicating that uploading of the received fax data to the target folder has failed (S515).

[0266] When the storage control unit 55a of the storage system 50 receives the request in S512, if the target folder indicated in the request in S512 is included in the user memory area in the storage system 50 of the user who set the target folder as the upload destination for the received fax data generated by the image processing device 30, i.e., the user memory area in the storage system 50 that is associated with the user ID that is associated in the user management information 54b with the token included in the request in S512, the storage control unit 55a stores the received fax data indicated in the request in S512 in the target folder (S516).

[0267] When the process of S516 is completed, the storage control unit 55a notifies the device linkage system 40 of the completion of uploading the received fax data to the target folder (S517).

[0268] When the process of S517 is completed, the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 notifies the image processing device 30 of the completion of uploading the received fax data to the target folder (S518).

[0269] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the notification in S518, it displays on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30 the completion of uploading the received fax data to the target folder (S519).

[0270] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 is notified in S502 that the storage system 50 can directly link with the image processing device, the external linking unit 38a requests a token for the storage system 50 from the device linking system 40 (S521).

[0271] When the device linking unit 45a of the device linking system 40 receives the request in S521, it sends to the image processing device 30 a token for the storage system 50 that is associated in the user management information 44b with the user ID of the user who set the target folder as the upload destination for the fax reception data generated by the image processing device 30 (S522).

[0272] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the token transmitted in S522, it requests the storage system 50 to store the received fax data generated by the fax communication unit 36 ​​in a target folder (S523). The external linking unit 38a includes the token transmitted in S522 in the request in S523.

[0273] When the storage control unit 55a of the storage system 50 receives the request in S523, if the target folder indicated in the request in S523 is not included in the user memory area in the storage system 50 of the user who set the target folder as the upload destination for the received fax data generated by the image processing device 30, i.e., the user memory area in the storage system 50 associated with the user ID associated in the user management information 54b with the token included in the request in S523, the storage control unit 55a notifies the image processing device 30 of the failure to upload the received fax data to the target folder (S524).

[0274] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the notification in S524, it displays a message on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30 indicating that uploading of the received fax data to the target folder has failed (S525).

[0275] When the storage control unit 55a of the storage system 50 receives the request in S523, if the target folder indicated in the request in S523 is included in the user memory area in the storage system 50 of the user who set the target folder as the upload destination for the received fax data generated by the image processing device 30, i.e., the user memory area in the storage system 50 that is associated with the user ID that is associated in the user management information 54b with the token included in the request in S523, the storage control unit 55a stores the received fax data indicated in the request in S523 in the target folder (S526).

[0276] When the process of S526 is completed, the storage control unit 55a notifies the image processing device 30 of the completion of uploading the received fax data to the target folder (S527).

[0277] When the external linking unit 38a of the image processing device 30 receives the notification in S527, it displays on the display unit 32 of the image processing device 30 the completion of uploading the received fax data to the target folder (S528).

[0278] The above description is based on the assumption that the image processing device 30 has successfully acquired the token transmitted from the device linkage system 40 in S522. If the external linkage unit 38a of the image processing device 30 fails to acquire the token from the device linkage system 40, the external linkage unit 38a may cancel the upload of the received fax data to the target folder. Note that the external linkage unit 38a of the image processing device 30 may determine that acquisition of the token from the device linkage system 40 has failed if, for example, the external linkage unit 38a of the image processing device 30 is unable to acquire the token from the device linkage system 40 within a specific time period after requesting the token from the device linkage system 40 in S521.

[0279] As described above, the image processing device 30 obtains from the device collaboration system 40 the token for the user that was obtained by the device collaboration system 40 from the storage system 50 external to the device collaboration system 40 in S135 (S341 and S342), and uses the token obtained from the device collaboration system 40 to download the print data in the storage system 50 from the storage system 50 without going through the device collaboration system 40 (S343 and S346), thereby reducing the possibility of print data being leaked from the device collaboration system 40.

[0280] The image processing device 30 identifies the print data by searching the storage system 50 via the device linkage system 40 (S201 and S205). Therefore, if the configuration of the storage system 50 is changed, the print data can be identified by searching the storage system 50 even if the configuration of the image processing device 30 is not changed, as long as the configuration of the device linkage system 40 is changed.

[0281] When the image processing device 30 fails to obtain a token from the device linkage system 40 (S341 and S342), it can reduce the possibility of the print data being leaked from the device linkage system 40 when it cancels printing based on the print data stored in the storage system 50 without downloading the print data from the storage system 50 via the device linkage system 40.

[0282] If the image processing device 30 fails to obtain a token from the device linkage system 40 (S341 and S342), it asks the user whether or not they wish to download print data from the storage system 50 via the device linkage system 40 (S361), and if the user replies that they wish to download print data from the storage system 50 via the device linkage system 40 (YES in S362), it downloads the print data from the storage system 50 via the device linkage system 40 (S364), thereby improving convenience.

[0283] The image processing device 30 obtains from the device collaboration system 40 the token for the user that was obtained by the device collaboration system 40 from a storage system 50 external to the device collaboration system 40 in S135 (S461 and S462), and uses the token obtained from the device collaboration system 40 to upload the scanned data to a folder in the storage system 50 without going through the device collaboration system 40 (S463 and S466), thereby reducing the possibility of the scanned data being leaked from the device collaboration system 40.

[0284] The image processing device 30 identifies the folder by searching the storage system 50 via the device linkage system 40 (S201 and S205). Therefore, if the configuration of the storage system 50 is changed, if the configuration of the device linkage system 40 is changed, the folder can be identified by searching the storage system 50 even if the configuration of the image processing device 30 is not changed.

[0285] When the image processing device 30 fails to obtain a token from the device linkage system 40 (S461 and S462), it can reduce the possibility of print data being leaked from the device linkage system 40 by canceling the upload of the scan data to the folder in the storage system 50 without uploading the scan data to the folder in the storage system 50 via the device linkage system 40.

[0286] If the image processing device 30 fails to obtain a token from the device linkage system 40 (S461 and S462), it asks the user whether or not they wish to upload the scanned data to a folder in the storage system 50 via the device linkage system 40 (S481), and if the user replies that they wish to upload the scanned data to a folder in the storage system 50 via the device linkage system 40 (YES in S482), it uploads the scanned data to a folder in the storage system 50 via the device linkage system 40 (S485), thereby improving convenience.

[0287] If the image processing device 30 fails to obtain a token from the device linkage system 40 (S461 and S462), it asks the user whether or not they wish to upload the scanned data to a folder outside the storage system 50 (S481), and if the user replies that they wish to upload the scanned data to a folder outside the storage system 50 (YES in S483), it uploads the scanned data to a folder outside the storage system 50 (S486), thereby improving convenience.

[0288] The image processing device 30 obtains from the device collaboration system 40 the token for the user that was obtained by the device collaboration system 40 from a storage system 50 external to the device collaboration system 40 in S135 (S521 and S522), and uses the token obtained from the device collaboration system 40 to upload the received fax data to a folder in the storage system 50 without going through the device collaboration system 40 (S523 and S526), ​​thereby reducing the possibility of the received fax data being leaked from the device collaboration system 40.

[0289] In this embodiment, the storage system is included in the image processing system 10. However, the storage system may exist as an external configuration to the image processing system 10.

[0290] In this embodiment, the user terminal is included in the image processing system 10. However, the user terminal may exist as an external component of the image processing system 10. [Explanation of symbols]

[0291] 10 Image Processing System 30 Image processing device 37a External Collaboration Program 40 Device Linkage System 50 Storage Systems

Claims

1. acquiring, from the device collaboration system, a token for a user that has been acquired by the device collaboration system from a storage system external to the device collaboration system that collaborates with the image processing device; downloading print data from the storage system using the token without going through the device linkage system; An image processing apparatus that executes printing based on the print data.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the print data is identified by searching the storage system via the device linkage system.

3. If acquisition of the token from the device linkage system fails, the user is asked whether or not he or she wishes to download the print data from the storage system via the device linkage system; 3. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein when the user replies that he or she wishes to download the print data from the storage system via the device linkage system, the image processing device downloads the print data from the storage system via the device linkage system.

4. An image processing device that generates scan data, acquiring, from the device collaboration system, a token for a user, the token having been acquired by the device collaboration system from an external storage system that collaborates with the image processing device; The image processing device is characterized in that the scanned data is uploaded to a folder in the storage system by using the token without going through the device linkage system.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the folder is identified by searching the storage system via the device linkage system.

6. If acquisition of the token from the device linkage system fails, the user is asked whether or not he or she wishes to upload the scanned data to the folder via the device linkage system; 6. The image processing device according to claim 4, wherein, when the user replies that he or she wishes to upload the scanned data to the folder via the device linkage system, the scanned data is uploaded to the folder via the device linkage system.

7. If acquisition of the token from the device linkage system fails, the user is asked whether or not he or she wishes to upload the scanned data to a folder outside the storage system; 6. The image processing device according to claim 4, wherein when the user responds that he or she wishes to upload the scanned data to a folder outside the storage system, the image processing device uploads the scanned data to a folder outside the storage system.

8. An image processing device for generating fax reception data, acquiring, from the device collaboration system, a token for a user, the token having been acquired by the device collaboration system from an external storage system that collaborates with the image processing device; The image processing apparatus is characterized in that the received fax data is uploaded to a folder in the storage system using the token without going through the device linkage system.

9. An external linkage program executed by an image processing device, causing the image processing device to acquire, from the device collaboration system, a token for a user, which has been acquired by the device collaboration system from a storage system external to the device collaboration system that collaborates with the image processing device; downloading print data stored in the storage system to the image processing device using the token without going through the device linkage system; an external linkage program that causes the image processing device to execute printing based on the print data;

10. An external linkage program executed by an image processing device that generates scan data, causing the image processing device to acquire, from the device collaboration system, a token for a user, which has been acquired by the device collaboration system from a storage system external to the device collaboration system that collaborates with the image processing device; an external linkage program that causes the image processing device to upload the scanned data to a folder in the storage system using the token without going through the device linkage system;

11. An external linkage program executed by an image processing device that generates fax reception data, causing the image processing device to acquire, from the device collaboration system, a token for a user, which has been acquired by the device collaboration system from a storage system external to the device collaboration system that collaborates with the image processing device; an external linking program that causes the image processing device to upload the received fax data to a folder in the storage system using the token without going through the device linking system;

12. an image processing device; a device linkage system that links with the image processing device; Equipped with the device collaboration system acquires a token for the user from the storage system by having the user log in to a storage system external to the device collaboration system via the device collaboration system; the image processing device acquires the token from the device linkage system; the image processing device uses the token to download print data stored in the storage system from the storage system without going through the device linkage system; The image processing system is characterized in that the image processing device executes printing based on the print data.

13. an image processing device that generates scan data; a device linkage system that links with the image processing device; Equipped with the device collaboration system acquires a token for the user from the storage system by having the user log in to a storage system external to the device collaboration system via the device collaboration system; the image processing device acquires the token from the device linkage system; The image processing system is characterized in that the image processing device uses the token to upload the scanned data to a folder in the storage system without going through the device linkage system.

14. an image processing device for generating fax reception data; a device linkage system that links with the image processing device; Equipped with the device collaboration system acquires a token for the user from the storage system by having the user log in to a storage system external to the device collaboration system via the device collaboration system; the image processing device acquires the token from the device linkage system; The image processing system is characterized in that the image processing device uses the token to upload the received fax data to a folder in the storage system without going through the device linkage system.

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