Information Processing Apparatus and Program

Abstract

To provide identification information for a specific apparatus among apparatuses capable of transferring after-processing information from a processing apparatus to other apparatuses.SOLUTION: A CPU of a transmission terminal device 100S transmits identification information acquired from a processing apparatus 200 to terminal devices 100 belonging to a terminal device group meeting predetermined conditions among a plurality of terminal device groups, respectively. Terminal devices 100 located inside broken lines 5A are terminal devices 100 belonging to a terminal device group meeting predetermined conditions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a process of determining additional information to be deleted from a data file according to the attributes of a storage destination, generating a search key unique to the data file, attaching it to the data file, and storing the data file when storing the data file in the cloud.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When providing post-processed information, which is information from a processing device, to a device that transfers the post-processed information to another device, for example, the post-processed information can be provided on the condition that the identification information matches. In this case, if the identification information is uniformly provided to all devices that can access the processing device, access from all devices to the processing device becomes possible, and problems such as information leakage are likely to occur. An object of the present invention is to be able to provide identification information to a specific device among devices that can transfer post-processed information from a processing device to another device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The invention according to claim 1 is an information processing apparatus including a processor, wherein the processor transmits pre - processing information, which is information to be processed by a processing apparatus that processes information to generate post - processing information which is the processed information, to the processing apparatus, and is capable of acquiring the post - processing information and transferring the post - processing information to another apparatus. The processor transmits identification information necessary for acquiring the post - processing information to an apparatus belonging to a predetermined device group among a plurality of device groups to which the apparatus belongs. The invention according to claim 2 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor transmits the identification information to an apparatus belonging to the device group to which the information processing apparatus belongs among the plurality of device groups. The invention according to claim 3 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor transmits the identification information to an apparatus belonging to a device group designated by a user among the plurality of device groups. The invention according to claim 4 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor acquires user information, which is information about a user who performs an operation on the information processing apparatus, and transmits the identification information to an apparatus belonging to a device group associated with the user information among the plurality of device groups. The invention according to claim 5 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor does not transmit the identification information to an apparatus in a specific state among the apparatuses belonging to the device group that satisfies the predetermined condition. The invention according to claim 6 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the processor does not transmit the identification information to an apparatus that cannot transfer the post - processing information to the other apparatus among the apparatuses belonging to the device group that satisfies the predetermined condition. The invention according to claim 7 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor transmits the identification information to an apparatus belonging to a device group associated with specific information included in the pre - processing information among the plurality of device groups. The invention according to claim 8 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the pre - processing information is information representing an image and the pre - processing information includes information representing a specific image, the processor transmits the identification information to a device belonging to a group of devices associated with the specific image. The invention according to claim 9 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor acquires the identification information from the processing device and transmits the identification information acquired from the processing device to a device belonging to the group of devices that satisfy the predetermined conditions. The invention according to claim 10 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor transmits the identification information to be transmitted to a device belonging to a group of devices that satisfy the predetermined conditions to the processing device. The invention according to claim 11 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor transmits information about a device belonging to the group of devices to a processing device that is registered in a device belonging to the group of devices and processes pre - processing information from the device. The invention according to claim 12 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor starts transmitting the identification information to a device belonging to a group of devices that satisfy the predetermined conditions before starting to transmit the pre - processing information to the processing device. The invention according to claim 13 is a program for causing a computer to realize a function of transmitting pre - processing information, which is information to be processed by a processing device to generate post - processing information that is the processed information, to the processing device, and a function of transmitting identification information necessary for acquiring the post - processing information to a device belonging to a group of devices that satisfy predetermined conditions among a plurality of groups of devices to which a device capable of acquiring the post - processing information and transferring the post - processing information to another device belongs.

Advantages of the Invention

[0006] According to the invention of claim 1, identification information can be provided to a specific device among devices capable of transferring post - processing information from a processing device to other devices. According to the invention of claim 2, the identification information can be transmitted to a device belonging to the device group to which the information processing device among the plurality of device groups belongs. According to the invention of claim 3, the identification information can be transmitted to a device belonging to the device group specified by the user among the plurality of device groups. According to the invention of claim 4, the identification information can be transmitted to a device belonging to the device group associated with the user information among the plurality of device groups. According to the invention of claim 5, it is possible to prevent the transmission of the identification information to a device in a specific state. According to the invention of claim 6, it is possible to prevent the transmission of the identification information to a device that cannot transfer the processed information to another device. According to the invention of claim 7, the identification information can be transmitted to a device belonging to the device group associated with specific information included in the pre - processing information among the plurality of device groups. According to the invention of claim 8, the identification information can be transmitted to a device belonging to the device group associated with the information representing a specific image included in the pre - processing information. According to the invention of claim 9, the identification information from the processing device can be provided to a device belonging to a device group that satisfies a predetermined condition. According to the invention of claim 10, when the processing device does not hold the identification information, the identification information can be provided to this processing device. According to the invention of claim 11, information about the device group can be provided to another processing device registered in the device belonging to the device group. According to the invention of claim 12, it is possible to perform the transmission of the pre - processing information to the processing device and the transmission of the identification information to a device belonging to a device group that satisfies a predetermined condition in parallel. According to the invention of claim 13, the identification information can be provided to a specific device among the devices capable of transferring the processed information from the processing device to another device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the information processing system 1 of the present embodiment. In the information processing system 1 of the present embodiment, a plurality of terminal devices 100 and a processing device 200 that processes information transmitted from the terminal devices 100 included in the plurality of terminal devices 100 are provided. The processing device 200 exists, for example, on the cloud. A plurality of terminal devices 100 are installed within a specific organization such as a company and are interconnected by a communication line (not shown). This communication line may be a wired communication line or a wireless communication line.

[0009] In this embodiment, a firewall FW is provided. Inside this firewall FW, a plurality of terminal devices 100 are provided, and outside the firewall FW, a processing device 200 is provided. The processing device 200 processes the pre - processing information, which is the information sent from the terminal device 100, and generates the post - processing information, which is the information after processing. In this embodiment, the pre - processing information is sent from the terminal device 100, which is an example of an information processing device, to the processing device 200. Then, the processing device 200 processes this pre - processing information to generate the post - processing information.

[0010] Also, in this embodiment, a receiving device 300 for receiving the post - processing information generated by the processing device 200 is provided. The receiving device 300, which is an example of another device, is provided inside the firewall FW. Also, the receiving device 300 is connected to a plurality of terminal devices 100 via a communication line (not shown). This communication line may also be a wired communication line or a wireless communication line.

[0011] In this embodiment, the post - processing information generated by the processing device 200 is sent to the receiving device 300 via the terminal device 100 included in the plurality of terminal devices 100. In other words, the post - processing information is sent to the receiving device 300 via the terminal device 100 included in the plurality of terminal devices 100. Then, this post - processing information is stored in this receiving device 300.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the processing device 200 and the receiving device 300. The processing device 200 and the receiving device 300 are provided with an information processing unit 201, an information storage device 202 for storing information, and a network interface 203 for realizing communication via a LAN (= Local Area Network) cable or the like.

[0013] The information processing unit 201 is configured by a computer. The information processing unit 201 has a CPU (= Central Processing Unit) 211 as an example of a processor that executes various processes described later. The information processing unit 201 also has a ROM (= Read Only Memory) 212 in which software is stored and a RAM (= Random Access Memory) 213 used as a work area. The information storage device 202 is realized by an existing information storage device such as a hard disk drive, a semiconductor memory, or a magnetic tape. The information processing unit 201, the information storage device 202, and the network interface 203 are connected through a bus 206 and signal lines (not shown).

[0014] The program executed by the CPU 211 can be provided to the processing device 200 and the receiving device 300 in a state of being stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a magnetic recording medium (magnetic tape, magnetic disk, etc.), an optical recording medium (optical disk, etc.), a magneto-optical recording medium, or a semiconductor memory. Also, the program executed by the CPU 211 may be provided to the processing device 200 and the receiving device 300 using communication means such as the Internet.

[0015] Each of the terminal devices 100 (see FIG. 1) as an example of an information processing device has an image forming function for forming an image on a recording medium such as paper. Each of the terminal devices 100 can also be regarded as an image forming device. Also, each of the terminal devices 100 includes an image reading device and has an image reading function for reading an image on a document in addition to the image forming function. Each of the terminal devices 100 is provided with a transmission / reception function for transmitting and receiving various types of information such as image data. Each of the terminal devices 100 is also provided with a FAX function. This FAX function is realized by this transmission / reception function.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the terminal device 100. FIG. 3 shows a configuration example when the terminal device 100 is an image forming apparatus. The terminal device 100 is provided with an information processing unit 111, an information storage device 112 for storing information, and a network interface 113 for realizing communication via a LAN (= Local Area Network) cable or the like. The terminal device 100 is also provided with an image forming device 114 for forming an image on a recording medium such as paper, an image reading device 115 for reading an image on a document, and a reception device 116 configured by a touch panel or the like for receiving an instruction from a user.

[0017] The information processing unit 111 is configured by a computer. The information processing unit 111 has a CPU (= Central Processing Unit) 111A as an example of a processor for executing various processes described later. The information processing unit 111 also has a ROM (= Read Only Memory) 111B in which software is stored and a RAM (= Random Access Memory) 111C used as a work area. The information storage device 112 is realized by an existing information storage device such as a hard disk drive, a semiconductor memory, or a magnetic tape.

[0018] The image forming device 114 uses an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, or the like to form an image on a recording medium such as paper. The image reading device 115 is a so-called scanner device that reads an image on a set document and generates image data. The information processing unit 111, the information storage device 112, the network interface 113, the image forming device 114, the image reading device 115, and the reception device 116 are connected through a bus 117 and signal lines (not shown).

[0019] The program executed by the CPU 111A can be provided to the terminal device 100 in a state stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a magnetic recording medium (magnetic tape, magnetic disk, etc.), an optical recording medium (optical disk, etc.), a magneto-optical recording medium, or a semiconductor memory. Also, the program executed by the CPU 111A may be provided to the terminal device 100 using communication means such as the Internet.

[0020] In this specification, the processor refers to a processor in a broad sense and includes a general-purpose processor (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) and a dedicated processor (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.). Also, the operation of the processor may be achieved not only by one processor but also by a plurality of physically separated processors cooperating. Also, the order of each operation of the processor is not limited to the order described in this embodiment and may be changed.

[0021] Here, each of the terminal devices 100 is not limited to a device having an image forming function and may be configured by a PC (Personal Computer) or the like. Also, each of the terminal devices 100 may be a portable device such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a smartwatch, or a game console. In addition, the plurality of provided terminal devices 100 are not limited to being configured by devices of the same type. Among the plurality of provided terminal devices 100, a plurality of types of devices may be mixed.

[0022] In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, pre - processing information is transmitted from one terminal device 100 to the processing device 200. And, except when the power of one terminal device 100 is turned off or the like, the post - processing information generated by the processing device 200 is transmitted to the receiving device 300 via this one terminal device 100. In the present embodiment, the post - processing information is returned to the terminal device 100 that transmitted the pre - processing information to the processing device 200. And this post - processing information is transmitted to the receiving device 300 via this terminal device 100.

[0023] FIGS. 4 to 8 are diagrams showing an outline of the processing executed in the information processing system 1. In the present embodiment, first, the user operates, for example, one terminal device 100 indicated by reference numeral 4A in FIG. 4 to read an image on the manuscript. In other words, the user sets the manuscript on the image reading device 115 (see FIG. 3) and scans the manuscript. Thereby, this one terminal device 100 acquires, as pre - processing information, the image data obtained by reading the manuscript.

[0024] Also, when performing this reading, the user inputs destination information indicating the transmission destination of the image data obtained by the reading to one terminal device 100. Note that this input may be performed by selecting the destination information registered in advance in one terminal device 100 indicated by reference numeral 4A, or may be performed by newly registering the destination information to this one terminal device 100. In this processing example, as the destination information, information is input such that the post - processing information is transmitted to the receiving device 300.

[0025] Then, as shown by reference numeral 4B, the CPU 111A (see FIG. 3) of one terminal device 100 performs a process of transmitting the pre - processing information composed of the image data to the processing device 200. More specifically, in the present embodiment, information about the processing device 200 is registered in advance in one terminal device 100 (hereinafter referred to as "transmission terminal device 100S"), and the CPU 111A of the transmission terminal device 100S transmits pre-processing information to this processing device 200. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the processing device 200 which is the transmission destination of the pre-processing information is registered in each of the terminal devices 100. The transmission terminal device 100S transmits the pre-processing information to the processing device 200 registered in itself.

[0026] In the present embodiment, when the transmission terminal device 100S transmits the pre-processing information to the processing device 200, the processing device 200 receives this pre-processing information. When receiving the pre-processing information, the processing device 200 transmits the identification information issued by itself to the transmission terminal device 100S. This identification information is used when other terminal devices 100 other than the transmission terminal device 100S acquire the post-processing information from the processing device 200 (details will be described later).

[0027] The identification information is constituted by, for example, a random number and is generated by the processing device 200. Note that the identification information is not limited to a random number and may be, for example, a predetermined fixed value or the like. In the present embodiment, this identification information necessary for acquiring the post-processing information is transmitted from the processing device 200 to the transmission terminal device 100S. When the processing device 200 transmits the identification information to the transmission terminal device 100S, the CPU 111A of the transmission terminal device 100S performs the acquisition process of this identification information.

[0028] Also, in this processing example, when the processing device 200 receives the pre-processing information, the processing device 200 starts processing on this pre-processing information. Specifically, in this processing example, the processing device 200 performs image processing such as image synthesis processing and OCR (Optical Character Recognition / Reader) processing on the pre-processing information constituted by image data. Note that the processing performed by the processing device 200 is not limited to image processing, and may be other types of processing as long as it can be realized using a computer.

[0029] After that, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 111A of the transmission terminal device 100S transmits the identification information acquired from the processing device 200 to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to a terminal device group that satisfies a predetermined condition among a plurality of existing terminal device groups (details will be described later). In FIG. 5, the terminal device 100 located inside the broken line indicated by reference numeral 5A is the terminal device 100 belonging to the terminal device group that satisfies the predetermined condition. Each of the terminal devices 100 is capable of transferring the processed information to the receiving device 300. In other words, each of the terminal devices 100 is a device that can acquire the processed information from the processing device 200 and transfer this processed information to the receiving device 300, which is another device.

[0030] The CPU 111A of the transmission terminal device 100S transmits the identification information acquired from the processing device 200 to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to a terminal device group (hereinafter referred to as the "condition-satisfied device group") that satisfies a predetermined condition among the plurality of terminal device groups to which this terminal device 100 capable of transferring the processed information to the receiving device 300 belongs. Note that the details of the terminal device group and the condition-satisfied device group will be described later.

[0031] In this processing example, the plurality of terminal devices 100 located inside the broken line indicated by reference numeral 5A are the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition-satisfied device group. In this embodiment, the transmission terminal device 100S transmits the identification information to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to this condition-satisfied device group.

[0032] Also, in this embodiment, the CPU 111A of the transmission terminal device 100S transmits the above destination information input by the user to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition-satisfied device group. Specifically, the CPU 111A of the transmission terminal device 100S transmits the destination information of the reception device 300, which is constituted by an IP address or the like, to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition-satisfied device group. In other words, the CPU 111A of the transmission terminal device 100S transmits information about the transmission destination of the processed information to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition-satisfied device group. In this embodiment, when transmitting the identification information and the destination information to the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition-satisfied device group, the transmission terminal device 100S performs encryption and then transmits the identification information and the destination information.

[0033] Thereafter, in this processing example, as indicated by reference numeral 6A in FIG. 6, the power of the transmission terminal device 100S is turned off. Next, in this processing example, when the processing in the processing device 200 is completed, information indicating that the processing has been completed (hereinafter, "processing completion information") is transmitted from the processing device 200 to the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition-satisfied device group. More specifically, in this processing example, the processing completion information is transmitted from the processing device 200 to the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition-satisfied device group that satisfy a specific condition.

[0034] In this embodiment, when the processing device 200 transmits the processing completion information, the power of the transmission terminal device 100S is turned off. Therefore, in this processing example, the processing completion information is transmitted from the processing device 200 not to the transmission terminal device 100S but to the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition-satisfied device group that satisfy a specific condition.

[0035] Next, the above-described identification information necessary for acquiring the processed information is transmitted from the terminal device 100 (hereinafter, referred to as "reception terminal device 100J") that has received the processing completion information to the processing device 200. In other words, in this embodiment, the above-described identification information necessary for acquiring the processed information is transmitted from the reception terminal device 100J, which is a terminal device 100 that satisfies a specific condition, to the processing device 200. In response, the processing device 200 acquires the identification information transmitted from the receiving terminal device 100J.

[0036] Then, in the processing device 200, the identification information transmitted by itself to the transmitting terminal device 100S is collated with the identification information transmitted from the receiving terminal device 100J. When the identification information transmitted by the processing device 200 to the transmitting terminal device 100S matches the identification information transmitted from the receiving terminal device 100J, the processing device 200 transmits the processed information to this receiving terminal device 100J as indicated by the code 6C.

[0037] Then, in this processing example, the receiving terminal device 100J acquires the processed information and then transmits the acquired processed information to the receiving device 300, which is an example of another device, as indicated by the code 6D. In this embodiment, thereby, the processed information from the processing device 200 is transferred by the receiving terminal device 100J to the receiving device 300, which is an example of another device.

[0038] Note that, in the above, the case where the processing device 200 issues the identification information has been described as an example. The issuance of the identification information is not limited to the processing device 200, and for example, the transmitting terminal device 100S may issue it. Even when the transmitting terminal device 100S issues the identification information, similar to the above, this identification information issued by the transmitting terminal device 100S is transmitted to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition - satisfied device group. In other words, the identification information is transmitted to each of the terminal devices 100 that are candidates for the receiving terminal device 100J that receives the processing - completed information.

[0039] Also, when the transmitting terminal device 100S issues the identification information, the CPU 111A of the transmitting terminal device 100S performs a process of transmitting this identification information to the processing device 200. And in this case, the processing device 200 receives and holds this identification information. Thereby, also in this case, in the processing device 200, the identification information held by the processing device 200 can be collated with the identification information transmitted from the receiving terminal device 100J to the processing device 200.

[0040] In the above, the case where the CPU 111A of the transmission terminal device 100S transmits identification information to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition-satisfied device group was described as an example. Here, the CPU 111A of the transmission terminal device 100S may not transmit the identification information to the terminal device 100 in a specific state among the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition-satisfied device group. More specifically, for example, the CPU 111A of the transmission terminal device 100S may not transmit the identification information to the terminal device 100 that cannot transfer the processed information to the receiving device 300, such as the terminal device 100 whose power is off among the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition-satisfied device group.

[0041] Also, for example, the CPU 111A of the transmission terminal device 100S may not transmit the identification information to the terminal device 100 that may cause a delay in transferring the processed information to the receiving device 300, such as the terminal device 100 that is in the middle of executing a process and has a large processing load among the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition-satisfied device group. In other words, when transmitting the identification information, the CPU 111A of the transmission terminal device 100S may transmit this identification information only to the terminal device 100 in a specific state among the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition-satisfied device group.

[0042] Thereafter, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, deletion request information, which is information indicating a request to delete the destination information and the identification information, is transmitted from the receiving terminal device 100J to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition-satisfied device group. In response to this, each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition-satisfied device group deletes the destination information and the identification information held by itself. Note that in this processing example, when in the state shown in FIG. 7, the power of the transmission terminal device 100S is still off, and the transmission terminal device 100S does not delete the destination information and the identification information.

[0043] FIG. 8 shows the state after the power of the transmission terminal device 100S is turned on. In this embodiment, when the power of the transmission terminal device 100S is turned on, the transmission terminal device 100S makes an inquiry about the processing status to the processing device 200. And when there is a notification from the processing device 200 to the transmission terminal device 100S that the processing is completed or a notification that the post-processing information has been transmitted, the transmission terminal device 100S deletes the destination information and identification information that it holds.

[0044] If the transmission terminal device 100S cannot inquire about the processing status to the processing device 200, the transmission terminal device 100S makes an inquiry to the terminal device 100 belonging to the condition-satisfied device group. And when there is a notification from the terminal device 100 belonging to the condition-satisfied device group to the transmission terminal device 100S that the processing is completed or a notification that the post-processing information has been transmitted, the transmission terminal device 100S deletes the destination information and identification information that it holds.

[0045] In this embodiment, the image processing, which is the processing for the image data obtained by the transmission terminal device 100S, is performed not by this transmission terminal device 100S but by a processing device 200, which is a device different from this transmission terminal device 100S. Thereby, in this embodiment, compared with the case where image processing is performed by each of the terminal devices 100 that can be the transmission terminal device 100S, it is easier to enhance the sophistication and speed up the image processing. When the image processing is performed not by each of the terminal devices 100 but by the processing device 200, it becomes easier to enrich the hardware resources for the image processing, and the performance of the image processing can be improved. In this case, compared with the case where image processing is performed by each of the terminal devices 100, it is easier to enhance the sophistication and speed up the image processing.

[0046] In this embodiment, there is a firewall FW between the line to which a plurality of terminal devices 100 (see FIG. 1) and the receiving device 300 are connected and the processing device 200 as an example of an external device. When directly transmitting processed information from the processing device 200 to the receiving device 300, it is necessary to perform a setting to permit this transmission in the firewall FW, which may result in a degradation of security performance. Therefore, in this embodiment, instead of directly transmitting the processed information from the processing device 200 to the receiving device 300, the processed information is first transmitted from the processing device 200 to the terminal device 100, and then transmitted to the receiving device 300 via the terminal device 100.

[0047] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the functions of each device constituting the information processing system 1. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of terminal devices 100 are provided. However, in FIG. 9, only one terminal device 100 is shown, and the illustration of the other terminal devices 100 is omitted. As shown in FIG. 9, the terminal device 100 includes an image forming unit 191 for forming an image on a recording medium such as paper. The terminal device 100 also includes an image reading unit 192 for reading an image on a document. The image forming unit 191 is realized by the image forming apparatus 114 shown in FIG. 3, and the image reading unit 192 is realized by the image reading apparatus 115 shown in FIG. 3.

[0048] Each of the terminal devices 100 also includes a communication unit 193 and a data holding unit 194. The communication unit 193 is realized by the network interface 113 shown in FIG. 3. The communication unit 193 includes a transmission unit 193A for transmitting information to the outside and a reception unit 193B for receiving information transmitted from the outside. The data holding unit 194 is realized by the information storage device 112 shown in FIG. 3. The data holding unit 194 includes a device group information holding unit 194A, a destination information holding unit 194B, and an identification information holding unit 194C.

[0049] The device group information holding unit 194A holds information about the above-described terminal device group. Specifically, the device group information holding unit 194A holds device identification information and group identification information, which will be described later. The destination information holding unit 194B holds the above-described destination information necessary when transmitting the processed information to the receiving device 300. The identification information holding unit 194C holds the above-described identification information necessary when acquiring the processed information.

[0050] The processing device 200 includes an image processing unit 292. This image processing unit 292 is realized, for example, when a CPU 211 (see FIG. 2) provided in the processing device 200 executes a program stored in a ROM 212 or the like. The image processing unit 292 performs predetermined image processing such as image composition processing and OCR processing on the image data which is the pre-processed information transmitted from the transmitting terminal device 100S. The processing device 200 also includes a communication unit 293 and a data holding unit 294. The communication unit 293 is realized by the network interface 203 shown in FIG. 2. The communication unit 293 includes a transmitting unit 293A that transmits information to the outside and a receiving unit 293B that receives information transmitted from the outside. The data holding unit 294 is realized by the information storage device 202 (see FIG. 2). The data holding unit 294 includes a device group information holding unit 294A and an identification information holding unit 294B.

[0051] The device group information holding unit 294A holds information about the above-described terminal device group. Specifically, the device group information holding unit 294A holds device identification information and group identification information, which will be described later. The identification information holding unit 294B holds the above-described identification information issued by the processing device 200 or the transmitting terminal device 100S. In other words, the identification information holding unit 294B holds identification information used for collation with the above-described identification information transmitted from the receiving terminal device 100J.

[0052] The receiving device 300 includes a processed information holding unit 391 and a communication unit 392. The post - processing information holding unit 391 is realized by the information storage device 202 shown in FIG. 2. The post - processing information holding unit 391 holds the post - processing information generated by the processing device 200 and transferred by the terminal device 100. The communication unit 392 is realized by the network interface 203 shown in FIG. 2. The communication unit 392 includes a receiving unit 392A. This receiving unit 392A receives the post - processing information generated by the processing device 200 and transferred by the terminal device 100.

[0053] FIGS. 10 to 13 are sequence diagrams showing the flow of processing executed in the information processing system 1. Although not described above, in the present embodiment, before a series of processes shown in FIGS. 4 to 8 are started, the administrator performs an operation on, for example, one of the plurality of provided terminal devices 100, and registers information about the above - mentioned terminal device group.

[0054] In other words, in the present embodiment, the administrator registers information about the above - mentioned terminal device group in advance. Note that the device operated by the administrator for registering information about the terminal device group is not limited to the terminal device 100, and may be another device connected to the terminal device 100, the processing device 200, or the like.

[0055] The administrator performs an operation on the reception device 116 (see FIG. 3) provided in one terminal device 100, and inputs information (device identification information) for identifying each of the plurality of terminal devices 100 constituting one terminal device group (step 101). Specifically, as the device identification information, the administrator inputs, for each of the terminal devices 100 constituting the terminal device group, for example, device identification information or address information that is information for identifying each individual terminal device 100. In the present embodiment, the administrator inputs the device identification information for each of the one terminal device groups to be registered.

[0056] When the administrator inputs device identification information via one terminal device 100, this one terminal device 100 checks whether it can communicate with each of the terminal devices 100 identified by this device identification information. Specifically, one terminal device 100 transmits information to each of the terminal devices 100 identified by the device identification information (step 102), and also checks for the presence or absence of a reply from each of these terminal devices 100. In the example shown in FIG. 10, there is a reply from each of the terminal devices 100 (step 103), and an example is illustrated where one terminal device 100 can communicate with each of the plurality of terminal devices 100.

[0057] Also, one terminal device 100 holds the device identification information (step 104). Specifically, one terminal device 100 registers the device identification information and group identification information, which is identification information associated with this device identification information and used to distinguish this device identification information from other device identification information, in the information storage device 112 (see FIG. 3). Hereinafter, in this specification, the device identification information and the group identification information associated with this device identification information may be referred to as "device group information" in some cases.

[0058] Next, one terminal device 100 transmits the device group information to each of the terminal devices 100 identified by the device identification information (step 105). In this example, the terminal devices 100 identified by the device identification information included in the device group information are terminal device 1 to terminal device 3, and one terminal device 100 transmits the device group information to each of terminal device 2 and terminal device 3, excluding terminal device 1 which is itself. Each of terminal device 2 and terminal device 3 receives this device group information and holds this device group information (step 106). Specifically, each of terminal device 2 and terminal device 3 registers the device group information in the information storage device 112 (see FIG. 3) that it has.

[0059] Furthermore, one terminal device 100 also transmits device group information to the processing device 200 (step 107). Then, the processing device 200 receives and holds this device group information (step 108). Specifically, the processing device 200 registers the device group information in the information storage device 202 (see FIG. 2). By the above processing, each of the processing device 200 and the terminal device 100 specified by the device identification information included in the device group information holds the device identification information included in the device group information and the group identification information associated with this device identification information.

[0060] FIG. 11 shows the processing flow when the user operates the transmission terminal device 100S to read a document. In this processing shown in FIG. 11, first, the user operates the transmission terminal device 100S to read a document (step 201). In this example, the transmission terminal device 100S serves as the terminal device 1, and the user operates the terminal device 1 to read a document. Specifically, the user sets the document on the image reading device 115 (see FIG. 3) and reads the image on the document. Thereby, image data is generated in the transmission terminal device 100S.

[0061] Next, in this processing example, the processing of step 202 indicated by reference numeral 11B is performed. In the processing of this step 202, image data as pre - processing information is transmitted from the transmission terminal device 100S to the processing device 200, and an image processing start instruction is also transmitted from the transmission terminal device 100S to the processing device 200. When the processing device 200 receives the image data and the start instruction, reception information, which is information indicating that the information has been received, is transmitted from the processing device 200 to the transmission terminal device 100S (step 203). Also, in this processing example, identification information is transmitted from the processing device 200 to the transmission terminal device 100S (step 203).

[0062] Next, the processing device 200 starts image processing, which is processing of the image data transmitted from the transmission terminal device 100S (step 204). On the other hand, the transmission terminal device 100S transmits information indicating that the image processing is being executed by the processing device 200 (hereinafter referred to as "processing information"), destination information, and identification information to each of the terminal devices 100 specified by the above device identification information included in the device group information registered in the transmission terminal device 100S (step 205). This identification information is the identification information transmitted from the processing device 200.

[0063] In the present embodiment, the above device group information is registered in the information storage device 112 of the transmission terminal device 100S, and the transmission terminal device 100S reads and acquires the device group information from the information storage device 112. Then, the transmission terminal device 100S transmits the processing information, destination information, and identification information to each of the terminal devices 100 specified by the device identification information included in this device group information. More specifically, the transmission terminal device 100S transmits the processing information, destination information, and identification information to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition-satisfied device group (described later).

[0064] Specifically, in this example, the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition-satisfied device group are the terminal devices 1 to 3, and the terminal device 1, which is the transmission terminal device 100S, transmits the processing information, destination information, and identification information to each of the terminal devices 2 and 3, which are the terminal devices 100 other than itself. In response to this, in the present embodiment, each of the terminal devices 2 and 3 receives and holds these pieces of information. That is, each of the terminal devices 2 and 3 holds the processing information, destination information, and identification information (step 206).

[0065] Note that a situation may occur in which there is a processing device 200 in which the device group information is not registered when the user operates the transmission terminal device 100S to start reading a document. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the terminal device 100 that can serve as the transmission terminal device 100S can register a plurality of processing devices 200, and a situation may occur in which the device group information is not registered in some of the plurality of processing devices 200. More specifically, after the registration of the device group information in the terminal device 100, a new processing device 200 may be registered. In this case, a situation may occur in which the device group information is not registered in this new processing device 200.

[0066] In this case, in the present embodiment, as shown by reference numeral 11A in FIG. 11, the device group information held by the transmission terminal device 100S is transmitted from the transmission terminal device 100S to this new processing device 200 (step 301). As a result, this new processing device 200 comes to hold the device group information (step 302). In this case, even when the power of the transmission terminal device 100S is turned off or the like, the new processing device 200 can transmit the processed information to the receiving device 300 via another terminal device 100.

[0067] Here, the form of transmitting the destination information from the transmission terminal device 100S to another terminal device 100 other than the transmission terminal device 100S is not particularly limited. For example, the destination information itself may be transmitted from the transmission terminal device 100S to each of the other terminal devices 100. In addition, for example, an image representing the destination information, such as a two-dimensional code, may be formed on the manuscript set in the transmission terminal device 100S. In this case, when the transmission terminal device 100S reads the manuscript, the image indicating the destination information is also read, and the destination information is included in the image data obtained by reading the manuscript.

[0068] In this case, for example, by transmitting this image data to another terminal device 100, the destination information may be transmitted to the other terminal device 100. In this case, the other terminal device 100 acquires the destination information by analyzing this image data. In addition, when an image representing destination information such as a two-dimensional code is formed on the document, the transmission terminal device 100S may analyze the image data obtained by reading this document to acquire the destination information, and then transmit the acquired destination information to another terminal device 100.

[0069] Next, in this processing example, as shown in FIG. 12, the power of the terminal device 1 which is the transmission terminal device 100S is turned off (step 207). In other words, it becomes a state where the transfer of the post-processing information using the transmission terminal device 100S cannot be performed. Furthermore, in this processing example, the image processing which is the processing on the image data in the processing device 200 is completed (step 208), and the post-processing information is generated. Next, in this processing example, an inquiry is made from the processing device 200 to the transmission terminal device 100S which is the transmission source of the image data as to whether communication is possible (step 209). In this processing example, the power of the transmission terminal device 100S is turned off, and there is no response from the transmission terminal device 100S (step 210).

[0070] In this case, the processing device 200 makes an inquiry about the situation to each of the terminal device 2 and the terminal device 3 which are the terminal devices 100 specified by the device group information (step 211). In this processing example, in response to this, information (status information) about the status of the terminal device 100 such as information about the free capacity of the information storage device 112 that each of the terminal device 2 and the terminal device 3 has and information about the execution status of the job in its own device is transmitted from each of the terminal device 2 and the terminal device 3 to the processing device 200 (step 212).

[0071] Then, when the processing device 200 acquires this status information, it determines the terminal device 100 to which the post-processing information is to be transmitted based on the acquired status information (step 213). Then, the processing device 200 gives a processing end notification which is a notification that the image processing has ended to the determined terminal device 100 (step 214). In this processing example, the case where the terminal device 2 is determined as the terminal device 100 that transmits the post - processing information is illustrated. The processing device 200 sends a processing completion notification to the terminal device 2.

[0072] In the present embodiment, as described above, the processing device 200 acquires information about the free capacity of the information storage device 112 and information about the execution status of jobs as situation information about the terminal device 2 and the terminal device 3. In addition, the processing device 200 may acquire, as situation information about the terminal device 2 and the terminal device 3, information about whether communication with the processing device 200 is possible and information about the number of jobs being executed on each of the terminal devices 100.

[0073] Then, based on this information, the processing device 200 determines the terminal device 100 that will be the destination for transmitting the post - processing information. Specifically, based on this information, the processing device 200 identifies, for example, a terminal device 100 that is powered on and in a state with a low processing load, and determines this identified terminal device 100 as the terminal device 100 that will be the destination for transmitting the post - processing information. In this processing example, as described above, the terminal device 2 is determined as the terminal device 100 that transmits the post - processing information. And in this case, the processing device 200 first sends a processing completion notification to the terminal device 2 as described above.

[0074] In response, the terminal device 2 sends the identification information it holds to the processing device 200 (step 215). Then, the processing device 200 compares the identification information it holds with the identification information sent from the terminal device 2. In this processing example, the identification information matches, and the processing device 200 sends the post - processing information to the terminal device 2 (step 216). Thereby, the terminal device 2 acquires the post - processing information.

[0075] Note that in the process of step 213, it is also assumed that the number of terminal devices 100 initially determined by the processing device 200 is plural. In that case, the processing device 200 performs a process to make the number of terminal devices 100 to be determined equal to one. Specifically, in this case, the processing device 200 evaluates each of the terminal devices 100 that are candidates for the transmission destination of the post-processing information for each judgment element, and determines for each judgment element whether it can be narrowed down to one terminal device 100.

[0076] And when the processing device 200 can narrow it down to one terminal device 100, it determines this one terminal device 100 as the terminal device 100 that is the transmission destination of the post-processing information. On the other hand, when the processing device 200 cannot narrow it down to one terminal device 100, for example, it evaluates each of the terminal devices 100 for the next judgment element, and based on this next judgment element, determines whether it can be narrowed down to one terminal device 100. And when it can narrow it down to one terminal device 100, it determines this one terminal device 100 as the terminal device 100 that is the transmission destination of the post-processing information. The processing device 200 repeats this process until it can narrow it down to one terminal device 100.

[0077] Here, examples of the above judgment elements used when narrowing it down to one terminal device 100 include a judgment element as to whether the user is logged in to the terminal device 100, a judgment element as to whether the terminal device 100 is executing a job, and a judgment element such as the free capacity of the information storage device 112.

[0078] Note that it is also assumed that it cannot be narrowed down to one terminal device 100 even by the last judgment element among the plurality of prepared judgment elements. In this case, for example, it is narrowed down to one terminal device 100 based on device identification information such as the registration number associated with each of the terminal devices 100 that constitute the device-specific information. More specifically, for example, the terminal device 100 with the smallest value of the device identification information or the terminal device 100 with the largest value of the device identification information is determined as one terminal device 100, and it is narrowed down to this one terminal device 100.

[0079] Next, in this processing example, the processing device 200 deletes the information it holds (step 217). Specifically, the processing device 200 deletes the post-processing information and the identification information. Also, in this processing example, the terminal device 2 that has acquired the post-processing information transmits the post-processing information to the receiving device 300 that is the transfer destination (step 218). As a result, the post-processing information is stored in the receiving device 300. After that, in this processing example, as shown in FIG. 13, a deletion request for information is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to each of the terminal device 1 and the terminal device 3 (step 219).

[0080] In response to this, in the terminal device 3, the information is deleted (step 220). Specifically, in the terminal device 3, the destination information and the identification information are deleted. After that, a notification indicating that the deletion has been completed is sent from the terminal device 3 to the terminal device 2 (step 221). On the other hand, in this processing example, the power of the terminal device 1 is still turned off, and as shown by reference numeral 13A, there is no response from the terminal device 1. In this case, in the terminal device 1, the destination information and the identification information are not deleted.

[0081] After that, in this processing example, the power of the terminal device 1 which is the transmitting terminal device 100S is turned on (step 222). When the power of the terminal device 1 is turned on, an inquiry about the processing status is made from the terminal device 1 to the processing device 200 (step 223). In response to this, information about the processing status is transmitted from the processing device 200 to the terminal device 1 (step 224). Specifically, in this processing example, information indicating that the processing has been completed is transmitted. More specifically, in this processing example, information indicating that the post-processing information has already been transmitted from the processing device 200 to the terminal device 1 is transmitted.

[0082] Then, when the terminal device 1 receives the information indicating that the processing has been completed, it deletes the information it holds (step 225). Specifically, the terminal device 1 deletes the destination information and the identification information. Note that when the terminal device 1 cannot inquire about the processing status to the processing device 200, as indicated by reference numeral 13B, the terminal device 1 inquires about the processing status to the terminal device 2 or the terminal device 3 (step 501).

[0083] In this embodiment, basically, the processed information is transmitted to the receiving device 300 via the transmitting terminal device 100S. In this case, as described above, if the power of the terminal device 1, which is the transmitting terminal device 100S, is turned off or the like, the processed information cannot be transmitted to the receiving device 300, or the transmission of the processed information to the receiving device 300 may be delayed. On the contrary, in this embodiment, as described above, another terminal device 100 such as the terminal device 2 transmits the processed information instead of the transmitting terminal device 100S. In this case, problems such as the inability to transmit the processed information to the receiving device 300 and the delay in transmitting the processed information to the receiving device 300 are less likely to occur.

[0084] Also, in this embodiment, when another terminal device 100 such as the terminal device 2 transmits the processed information instead of the transmitting terminal device 100S, as described above, it is determined whether the identification information matches. When the identification information matches, the processed information is transmitted to another terminal device 100, and the processed information is transmitted to the receiving device 300 via this other terminal device 100. In this way, when determining whether the identification information matches or does not match, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation where a malicious user accesses the processing device 200 via the terminal device 100, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation such as leakage of image data.

[0085] Also, in the above processing example, the case where another terminal device 100 transfers the processed information when the power of the transmitting terminal device 100S is turned off is described as an example. Incidentally, the transfer of the processed information by another terminal device 100 is not limited to the case where the power of the transmitting terminal device 100S is turned off. For example, it may be performed when the transmitting terminal device 100S shifts to the sleep mode, or when the load of the transmitting terminal device 100S exceeds a predetermined threshold value. In the present embodiment, the transfer of the processed information by another terminal device 100 is performed when specific conditions are satisfied, such as when the power of the transmitting terminal device 100S is turned off.

[0086] In other words, in the present embodiment, the transfer of the processed information by another terminal device 100 is performed when the transmitting terminal device 100S is in a specific state. In the above example, when the transmitting terminal device 100S is in a specific state, the processed information is transmitted from the processing device 200 to another terminal device 100, and thereby the processed information is transmitted to the receiving device 300. This specific state includes not only the state of the power being off, but also the state of being in the sleep mode, the state where the load exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and the like.

[0087] Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in step 107 of FIG. 10, the case where the device group information is transmitted to the processing device 200 registered in one terminal device 100 (hereinafter referred to as the "operation terminal device 100") operated by the administrator when registering the device group information is described as an example. In other words, in the above, the case where the device group information is registered in the processing device 200 registered in the operation terminal device 100 is described as an example.

[0088] Not limited to this, for example, the device group information may be transmitted to each of the other processing devices 200 registered in each of the other terminal devices 100 that have received the device group information, and the device group information may be registered in each of these other processing devices 200. Although the description has been omitted above, in the present embodiment, for each terminal device 100, the registration of the processing device 200 to the terminal device 100 is performed individually. In this case, even if the device group information is registered in the processing device 200 registered in the operation terminal device 100, the device group information is not registered in the processing device 200 registered in another terminal device 100 different from this operation terminal device 100.

[0089] When registering the device group information for the processing device 200 registered in another terminal device 100 different from the operation terminal device 100, for example, from this other terminal device 100, the device group information is transmitted to the processing device 200 registered in this other terminal device 100. Specifically, in this case, when the other terminal device 100 receives the device group information, it transmits this device group information to the processing device 200 registered in itself. As a result, the device group information is registered in the other processing device 200.

[0090] In this case, although it is not registered in the operation terminal device 100, the device group information is also registered in other processing devices 200 registered in other terminal devices 100 other than the operation terminal device 100. Here, it is also assumed that the user sets a manuscript in this other terminal device 100 and transmits pre - processing information from this other terminal device 100 to the processing device 200 (hereinafter referred to as "the other processing device 200") registered in this other terminal device 100.

[0091] In this case, if the power of this other terminal device 100 corresponding to the transmission terminal device 100S is later turned off and the device group information is not registered in the above - mentioned other processing device 200, the post - processing information generated by this other processing device 200 cannot be transmitted to other terminal devices 100 other than the transmission terminal device 100S. On the contrary, if the configuration is such that the device group information is transmitted and registered in the other processing device 200 as described above, the other processing device 200 can transmit the post - processing information to other terminal devices 100 other than the transmission terminal device 100S.

[0092] Note that the registration of the device group information for each of the other processing devices 200 may use other methods. As another method, for example, there is a method in which the operation terminal device 100 acquires information about the processing devices 200 (hereinafter referred to as "processing device information") registered in each of the other terminal devices 100 specified by the device group information from each of the other terminal devices 100. And in this case, the device group information is transmitted from this operation terminal device 100 to each of the processing devices 200 specified by the processing device information.

[0093] In other words, in this other method, the CPU 111A of the operation terminal device 100 transmits the device group information to the processing device 200 that is registered in each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the terminal device group and processes the pre-processing information from this terminal device 100. Also in this case, the device group information is registered in each of the processing devices 200 registered in the other terminal devices 100.

[0094] Note that in the present embodiment, there may be a case where a plurality of processing devices 200 having different processing contents are provided. Specifically, there may be a case where processing devices 200 having different processing contents are provided, such as a processing device 200 that performs image synthesis processing based on image data and a processing device 200 that performs OCR processing on the image data. Also in the present embodiment, there may be a case where a plurality of processing devices 200 having different processing contents are registered for one terminal device 100. Also in the present embodiment, there may be a case where the processing contents of the processing devices 200 registered for one terminal device 100 are different from the processing contents of the processing devices 200 registered for another terminal device 100.

[0095] In the present embodiment, by performing the above processing on the processing device 200 existing at the time of input of the device specifying information for the operation terminal device 100, it is possible to transmit the device specifying information and the group identification information. In other words, it is possible to transmit the device group information to the processing device 200 existing at the time of input of the device specifying information for the operation terminal device 100. Accordingly, for the processing device 200 that exists when the device identification information is input to the operation terminal device 100, the device identification information and the group identification information can be registered.

[0096] On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as described above, for the new processing device 200 that does not exist when the device identification information is input to the operation terminal device 100 and is registered after this input, the device identification information and the group identification information are not registered. In this case, even if the pre - processing information is transmitted from the transmission terminal device 100S to this new processing device 200 and the post - processing information is generated by this new processing device 200, the post - processing information cannot be transferred to the receiving device 300 via the terminal device 100 other than this transmission terminal device 100S.

[0097] Therefore, in the present embodiment, in this case, when the pre - processing information is transmitted from the transmission terminal device 100S to a new processing device 200 that does not hold the device identification information and the group identification information, as shown by reference numeral 11A in FIG. 11, the device group information (device identification information, group identification information) held by this transmission terminal device 100S is transmitted to this new processing device 200. As a result, the new processing device 200 becomes able to hold the device identification information and the group identification information, and even when the power of the transmission terminal device 100S is turned off or the like, the post - processing information can be transmitted to the receiving device 300 via another terminal device 100.

[0098] Also, in the above, as shown in FIG. 11, a case has been described as an example where the image data, which is the pre - processing information, is transmitted to the processing device 200, and after the pre - processing information is uploaded to the processing device 200, the destination information and the identification information are transmitted to another terminal device 100 other than the transmission terminal device 100S. By the way, not limited to this, the transmission of these information to another terminal device 100 may be performed before starting the transmission of the pre - processing information to the processing device 200. Specifically, in this case, before the CPU 111A of the transmission terminal device 100S starts transmitting the pre - processing information to the processing device 200, for example, it starts transmitting the identification information and destination information to each of the other terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition - satisfaction device group.

[0099] More specifically, for example, the transmission of these pieces of information (identification information, destination information) to the other terminal devices 100 may be started, for example, before reading the image on the original document. In other words, the transmission of the destination information and identification information to the other terminal devices 100 may be started before the original document is scanned at the transmission terminal device 100S. More specifically, the transmission of the destination information and identification information to the other terminal devices 100 may be started before the process of step 201 shown in FIG. 11. When the transmission of the destination information and identification information to the other terminal devices 100 is started before reading the image on the original document, the transmission of the destination information and identification information to the other terminal devices 100 and the reading of the original document at the transmission terminal device 100S can be performed in parallel, thus shortening the processing time.

[0100] In particular, when there are many other terminal devices 100 that are the information recipients and it takes a long time to read the original document, such as when the number of original document pages is large, the processing time can be shortened. Note that when the transmission of the destination information and identification information to the other terminal devices 100 is to be started before reading the image on the original document, the transmission terminal device 100S should obtain the identification information before reading the image on the original document. Specifically, before reading the image on the original document, the transmission terminal device 100S makes a request for obtaining the identification information to the processing device 200 so as to obtain the identification information before reading the image on the original document.

[0101] In addition, when starting to send the identification information and destination information to each of the other terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition satisfaction device group before starting to send the pre - processing information to the processing device 200, for example, after reading the image on the document and before sending the pre - processing information to the processing device 200, the sending of the identification information and destination information may be started. In other words, the sending of the destination information and identification information to each of the other terminal devices 100 may be started after the pre - processing information is generated and before the sending of this pre - processing information to the processing device 200 is started.

[0102] More specifically, the sending of the destination information and identification information to each of the other terminal devices 100 may be started after the process of step 201 shown in FIG. 11 and before the process of step 202. Also in this case, the sending of the destination information and identification information to each of the other terminal devices 100 and the sending of the pre - processing information to the processing device 200 can be performed in parallel, thus shortening the processing time. In this case as well, similar to the above, before sending the pre - processing information to the processing device 200, the sending terminal device 100S acquires the identification information from the processing device 200.

[0103] In addition, for example, the sending of the destination information and identification information to each of the other terminal devices 100 may be performed when it is determined that the sending terminal device 100S cannot send the post - processing information to the receiving device 300. Specifically, the sending of the destination information and identification information to each of the other terminal devices 100 may be performed when the sending terminal device 100S is in a specific state, such as when the power of the sending terminal device 100S is turned off or when the load of the sending terminal device 100S exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

[0104] In this case, for example, when the transmitting terminal device 100S enters a specific state, the transmitting terminal device 100S sends a request for acquiring identification information to the processing device 200, and the transmitting terminal device 100S acquires the identification information. Then, the transmitting terminal device 100S transmits the destination information and the identification information to other terminal devices 100. In this case, as long as the transmitting terminal device 100S does not enter the specific state, the transmission of the destination information and the identification information can be omitted, and the processing can be completed with only the three devices: the transmitting terminal device 100S, the processing device 200, and the receiving device 300.

[0105] Also, in the processing of step 209 (see FIG. 12) and step 211 above, as an example, a case is described where an inquiry is made to each of all the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition-satisfied device group from the processing device 200, and the status of all these terminal devices 100 is confirmed. In other words, in the processing of step 209 and step 211 above, as an example, a case is described where an inquiry is made to each of all the terminal devices 100 specified by the device-specifying information from the processing device 200, and the status of all the terminal devices 100 is confirmed. By the way, it is not limited to this. For example, if inquiries are made to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition-satisfied device group in order and a terminal device 100 that satisfies the conditions in advance is detected, a process of omitting subsequent inquiries may be performed.

[0106] In addition, when the processing device 200 transmits the post-processing information to the terminal device 100, it is also assumed that all of the terminal devices 100 that are candidates for transmission are powered off, or that there is only one terminal device 100 specified by the device-specifying information and this one terminal device 100 is powered off. In this case, the processing device 200 may hold off on transmitting the post-processing information. In other words, in this case, the processing device 200 may interrupt the transmission of the post-processing information. And in this case, when communication with the terminal device 100 becomes possible, for example, when the power of the terminal device 100 is turned on, the processing device 200 transmits the processed information to the terminal device 100 for which communication has become possible.

[0107] In the present embodiment, as described above, each of the terminal devices 100 and the processing device 200 holds device group information. In other words, each of the terminal devices 100 and the processing device 200 holds device group information including device identification information and group identification information associated with this device identification information. The device group information held by each of the terminal devices 100 and the processing device 200 is not limited to one, and each of the terminal devices 100 and the processing device 200 may hold a plurality of device group information.

[0108] More specifically, a plurality of device group information may be registered by an administrator, and in this case, each of the terminal devices 100 and the processing device 200 holds a plurality of device group information. In this case, a state in which a plurality of terminal device groups exist, and information about each of these plurality of terminal device groups is registered in the terminal device 100 and the processing device 200.

[0109] When a plurality of terminal device groups exist, the processing device 200 sets each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition - satisfied device group, which is a terminal device group that satisfies a predetermined condition among the plurality of terminal device groups, as a candidate terminal device for the transmission destination of the processed information. Also, when a plurality of terminal device groups exist, the transmitting terminal device 100S transmits destination information and identification information to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition - satisfied device group, which is a terminal device group that satisfies a predetermined condition among the plurality of terminal device groups.

[0110] In this case, destination information and identification information are not transmitted to the terminal devices 100 belonging to the terminal device group that does not satisfy the predetermined condition, and information leakage is less likely to occur compared to the case where destination information and identification information are uniformly transmitted to all terminal devices 100. In this embodiment, in this way, identification information necessary for obtaining processed information is transmitted to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the condition-satisfied device group, which is a terminal device group among a plurality of terminal device groups that satisfies predetermined conditions. Also, in this embodiment, destination information is transmitted to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to this condition-satisfied device group.

[0111] Here, examples of the terminal device group that satisfies the predetermined conditions include, for example, the terminal device group to which the transmitting terminal device 100S belongs among the plurality of existing terminal device groups. In this case, the processing device 200 regards each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the terminal device group to which the transmitting terminal device 100S belongs among the plurality of existing terminal device groups as a candidate terminal device 100 for the destination of the processed information. And when the processing device 200 transmits the processed information to a terminal device 100 other than the transmitting terminal device 100S, it transmits the processed information to any one of the terminal devices 100 included in this candidate.

[0112] Also, in this case, the transmitting terminal device 100S that has acquired the identification information from the processing device 200 transmits this identification information and the destination information to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the terminal device group to which it belongs. In other words, in this case, the transmitting terminal device 100S transmits the identification information and the destination information to each of the terminal devices 100 specified by the device-specific information including information about itself.

[0113] In addition, examples of the terminal device group that satisfies the predetermined conditions include, for example, the terminal device group specified by the user. In this case, the processing device 200 regards each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the terminal device group specified by the user among the plurality of existing terminal device groups as candidates for the destination of the processed information. And when the processing device 200 transmits the processed information to a terminal device 100 other than the transmitting terminal device 100S, it transmits the processed information to any one of the terminal devices 100 included in this candidate. Also, in this case, the transmitting terminal device 100S that has acquired the identification information from the processing device 200 transmits this identification information and the destination information to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the terminal device group designated by the user among the plurality of terminal device groups.

[0114] The designation of the terminal device group by the user is realized, for example, by the user's operation on the receiving device 116 (see FIG. 3) provided in the transmitting terminal device 100S. In this case, the user performs an operation on the receiving device 116 provided in the transmitting terminal device 100S to designate the terminal device group. Specifically, the user performs an operation on the receiving device 116 provided in the transmitting terminal device 100S to select group identification information etc. associated with each of the device specifying information.

[0115] In this case, the transmitting terminal device 100S transmits information about the terminal device group designated by the user to the processing device 200. Specifically, the transmitting terminal device 100S transmits, for example, the group identification information selected by the user to the processing device 200. Also, in this case, the transmitting terminal device 100S transmits the identification information and the destination information to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to this terminal device group designated by the user. In other words, the transmitting terminal device 100S transmits the destination information and the identification information transmitted from the processing device 200 to each of the terminal devices 100 specified by the device specifying information associated with the group identification information selected by the user.

[0116] And, in this case, as described above, when the power of the transmitting terminal device 100S is turned off etc., the processing device 200 transmits the processed information to any one of the terminal devices 100 belonging to this terminal device group designated by the user. Specifically, the processing device 200 transmits the processed information to a terminal device 100 that satisfies specific conditions, such as a terminal device 100 that is powered on and in a state with a small processing load, among the terminal devices 100 belonging to this terminal device group designated by the user. Then, this terminal device 100 that has received the processed information uses the destination information transmitted from the transmitting terminal device 100S and transmits this processed information to the receiving device 300.

[0117] In addition, as an example of a group of terminal devices that satisfy predetermined conditions, a group of terminal devices associated with user information can be cited. In this case, the processing device 200 designates each terminal device 100 belonging to the group of terminal devices associated with the user information among the multiple existing groups of terminal devices as a candidate terminal device 100 for the destination of the processed information.

[0118] When the processing device 200 transmits the processed information to a terminal device 100 other than the transmitting terminal device 100S, it transmits the processed information to any one of the terminal devices 100 included in this candidate. Specifically, similar to the above, the processing device 200 transmits the processed information to a terminal device 100 that satisfies specific conditions, such as a terminal device 100 that is powered on and has a low processing load, among the terminal devices 100 included in this candidate. Also, in this case, the transmitting terminal device 100S that has acquired the identification information from the processing device 200 transmits the destination information and this identification information to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the group of terminal devices associated with the user information among the multiple groups of terminal devices.

[0119] When transmitting the identification information and the destination information to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the group of terminal devices associated with the user information, for example, the CPU 111A of the transmitting terminal device 100S acquires user information, which is information about the user who set the document to this transmitting terminal device 100S. In other words, the CPU 111A of the transmitting terminal device 100S acquires user information, which is information about the user who performs processing using the transmitting terminal device 100S. Here, the user information is not particularly limited and can be any information related to the user. For example, the user information may include information related to the user's attributes such as the user's name, age, gender, employment form, and affiliation.

[0120] The CPU 111A of the transmission terminal device 100S acquires, as user information, for example, information obtained by the transmission terminal device 100S from an ID card when the user presents the ID card to the transmission terminal device 100S. Then, the CPU 111A of the transmission terminal device 100S transmits this user information to the processing device 200. Based on this user information, the processing device 200 identifies candidates for the terminal device 100 that will be the destination of the processed information.

[0121] Specifically, the processing device 200 identifies, as candidates for the terminal device 100 that will be the destination of the processed information, the terminal devices 100 belonging to the group of terminal devices associated with this user information. Also, the CPU 111A of the transmission terminal device 100S transmits the identification information and destination information transmitted from the processing device 200 to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the group of terminal devices associated with this user information.

[0122] And in this case, as described above, when the power of the transmission terminal device 100S is turned off or the like, the processing device 200 transmits the processed information to any one of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the group of terminal devices associated with the user information. Specifically, the processing device 200 transmits the processed information to the terminal device 100 that satisfies specific conditions among the terminal devices 100 belonging to the group of terminal devices associated with the user information, in the same manner as above. Then, the terminal device 100 that has received the processed information transmits this processed information to the receiving device 300 based on the destination information transmitted from the transmission terminal device 100S.

[0123] When performing this process, in advance, for each of the device group information, user information is associated, and the device group information and the user information are registered in each of the terminal device 100 and the processing device 200 in a state where they are associated with each other. Specifically, the device group information and the user information are registered in the information storage device 112 (see FIG. 3) provided in the terminal device 100 and the information storage device 202 (see FIG. 2) provided in the processing device 200.

[0124] When the transmission terminal device 100S acquires user information, it transmits this user information to the processing device 200. When the processing device 200 acquires user information, based on the device group information associated with this user information, it identifies the terminal device 100 that is a candidate for the transmission destination of the processed information. In other words, the processing device 200 identifies the terminal device 100 specified by this device group information as the terminal device 100 that is a candidate for the transmission destination of the processed information.

[0125] And when the power of the transmission terminal device 100S is turned off or the like, the processing device 200 transmits the processed information to any one of the terminal devices 100 included in this candidate terminal device 100. Specifically, similar to the above, the processing device 200 transmits the processed information to the terminal device 100 that satisfies a specific condition and is included in this candidate terminal device 100. Also, when the transmission terminal device 100S acquires user information, based on the device group information associated with this user information, it identifies the transmission destinations of the identification information and the destination information. And the transmission terminal device 100S transmits the identification information and the destination information to the identified transmission destination (terminal device 100).

[0126] When the identification information is transmitted to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the terminal device group associated with the user information, for example, the processed information obtained by the processing device 200 can be transmitted to the receiving device 300 via the terminal device 100 used by a specific organization to which the user belongs. In this case, compared with the case where the processed information is transmitted to the receiving device 300 via a terminal device 100 other than the terminal device 100 used by this specific organization, leakage of the processed information and the like are less likely to occur.

[0127] In addition, as an example of a group of terminal devices that satisfy predetermined conditions, there is, for example, a group of terminal devices associated with specific information included in the pre-process information. In this case, the CPU 111A of the transmitting terminal device 100S that has acquired the identification information from the processing device 200 transmits this identification information to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the group of terminal devices associated with the specific information included in the pre-process information among the plurality of groups of terminal devices.

[0128] When performing this process, in advance, for each of the device group information, the above specific information is associated, and in a state where the device group information and the specific information are associated with each other, each of the terminal devices 100 and the processing device 200 are registered. And in this case, when the acquired pre-process information includes specific information, the processing device 200 identifies a terminal device 100 that is a candidate for the transmission destination of the processed information based on this specific information.

[0129] Specifically, the processing device 200 identifies one group of terminal devices based on the specific information included in the acquired pre-process information, and identifies each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to this one identified group of terminal devices as a terminal device 100 that is a candidate for the transmission destination of the processed information. Furthermore, when the power of the transmitting terminal device 100S is turned off or the like, the processing device 200 transmits the processed information to the terminal device 100 that satisfies specific conditions among the identified terminal devices 100 in the same manner as above.

[0130] Also, when the pre-process information includes specific information, the transmitting terminal device 100S identifies the terminal device 100 that is the transmission destination of the identification information and the destination information based on the device group information associated with this specific information. Specifically, the transmission terminal device 100S identifies each of the terminal devices 100 specified by the device group information associated with specific information as the terminal device 100 that is the destination of the identification information and the destination information. Then, the transmission terminal device 100S transmits the identification information and the destination information to each of the identified terminal devices 100.

[0131] Here, examples of the specific information included in the pre - processing information include information representing a specific image. Specifically, in this embodiment, as described above, the pre - processing information may be image data, or the pre - processing information may be information representing an image. In this case, when the information representing a specific image is included in the pre - processing information composed of image data, the identification information is transmitted to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the terminal device group associated with the information representing this specific image. Also, the post - processing information is transmitted to any one of the terminal devices 100 belonging to this terminal device group. Here, examples of the specific image include character images such as "Secret" and character images such as "Confidential".

[0132] Here, character images such as "Secret" and character images such as "Confidential" can also be regarded as information representing the type of manuscript set in the transmission terminal device 100S. When the information representing the type of manuscript is included in the pre - processing information, based on the information representing the type of manuscript, the terminal device 100 that is a candidate for the destination of the post - processing information may be identified, and the terminal device 100 that is the destination of the identification information and the destination information may be identified. Note that when performing this process, similar to the above, information representing this type is associated with each of the device group information in advance.

[0133] In addition, as a group of terminal devices that satisfy predetermined conditions, for example, there are a group of terminal devices associated with the file name attached to the above-described image data obtained by reading a document at the transmission terminal device 100S, and a group of terminal devices associated with the setting information set at the time of this reading. In this case, the CPU 111A of the transmission terminal device 100S that has acquired the identification information from the processing device 200 transmits this identification information to each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to the group of terminal devices associated with the file name or setting information among the plurality of groups of terminal devices.

[0134] When performing this process, in advance, for each of the device group information, the above-described file name and setting information are associated, and the device group information, the file name, and the setting information are registered in each of the terminal devices 100 and the processing device 200 in a state where they are associated with each other. And in this case, when the file name or setting information is transmitted from the transmission terminal device 100S, the processing device 200 identifies the terminal device 100 that is a candidate for the transmission destination of the processed information based on this file name or setting information.

[0135] Specifically, the processing device 200 identifies one group of terminal devices based on the file name or setting information, and identifies each of the terminal devices 100 belonging to this one identified group of terminal devices as the terminal device 100 that is a candidate for the transmission destination of the processed information. Furthermore, similarly to the above, when the power of the transmission terminal device 100S is turned off or the like, the processing device 200 transmits the processed information to the terminal device 100 that satisfies a specific condition among the identified terminal devices 100.

[0136] In addition, the transmission terminal device 100S identifies the terminal device 100 that is the transmission destination of the identification information and the destination information based on the device group information associated with the file name or setting information. Specifically, the transmission terminal device 100S identifies each of the terminal devices 100 specified by the device group information associated with the file name or setting information as the terminal device 100 that is the transmission destination of the identification information and the destination information. Then, the transmitting terminal device 100S transmits identification information and destination information to each of the identified terminal devices 100.

[0137] Here, as the setting information, an example is parameters set by the user when the transmitting terminal device 100S reads an image on a document. Also, as the setting information, in addition to parameters, for example, settings regarding an electronic certificate and settings regarding a password can be cited. When starting to read an image on a document, the user may set an electronic certificate by PKI to guarantee who (where) the transmission is from and a password for encrypting a file.

[0138] In this case, information regarding the setting of this electronic certificate and information regarding the setting of the password are registered in each of the terminal devices 100 and the processing device 200 in a state associated with the device group information. Thereby, based on the information regarding the setting of this electronic certificate and the information regarding the setting of the password, the above-mentioned one terminal device group can be specified. More specifically, for example, based on information on whether the setting of the electronic certificate has been made, information on whether the password has been set, the content of the setting of the electronic certificate, and the content of the set password, the above-mentioned one terminal device group can be specified.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0139] 1... Information processing system, 100... Terminal device, 111A... CPU, 200... Processing device, 300... Receiving device

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus including a processor, wherein the processor transmits pre - processed information, which is the information to be processed by the processing apparatus, to a processing apparatus that processes information and generates post - processed information, which is the information after processing; transmits identification information necessary for acquiring the post - processed information to an apparatus belonging to a predetermined device group among a plurality of device groups to which an apparatus capable of acquiring the post - processed information and transferring the post - processed information to another apparatus belongs. An information processing apparatus.

2. The processor transmits the identification information to an apparatus belonging to the device group to which the information processing apparatus belongs among the plurality of device groups. The information processing apparatus according to Claim 1.

3. The processor transmits the identification information to an apparatus belonging to a device group designated by a user among the plurality of device groups. The information processing apparatus according to Claim 1.

4. The processor acquires user information, which is information about a user who performs an operation on the information processing apparatus, and transmits the identification information to an apparatus belonging to a device group associated with the user information among the plurality of device groups. The information processing apparatus according to Claim 1.

5. The processor does not transmit the identification information to an apparatus in a specific state among the apparatuses belonging to the device group that satisfies the predetermined condition. The information processing apparatus according to Claim 1.

6. The processor does not transmit the identification information to an apparatus that cannot transfer the post - processed information to the other apparatus among the apparatuses belonging to the device group that satisfies the predetermined condition. The information processing apparatus according to Claim 5.

7. The processor transmits the identification information to an apparatus belonging to a device group associated with specific information included in the pre - processed information among the plurality of device groups. The information processing apparatus according to Claim 1.

8. The processor transmits the identification information to an apparatus belonging to a device group associated with a specific image when the pre - processed information represents an image and the pre - processed information includes information representing the specific image. The information processing apparatus according to Claim 7.

9. The processor acquires the identification information from the processing apparatus, and transmits the identification information acquired from the processing apparatus to an apparatus belonging to the device group that satisfies the predetermined condition. The information processing apparatus according to Claim 1.

10. The processor Transmitting the identification information to the device belonging to the group of devices that satisfy the predetermined conditions to the processing device The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

11. The processor Transmits information about the device belonging to the group of devices to a processing device that is registered in the device belonging to the group of devices and processes pre-processing information from the device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

12. The processor Before starting to transmit the pre-processing information to the processing device, starts to transmit the identification information to the device belonging to the group of devices that satisfy the predetermined conditions. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

13. A function of transmitting pre-processing information, which is information to be processed by the processing device, to a processing device that processes information to generate post-processing information, which is the post-processing information; A function of transmitting identification information necessary for acquiring the post-processing information to a device belonging to a group of devices that satisfy a predetermined condition among a plurality of groups of devices to which a device capable of acquiring the post-processing information and transferring the post-processing information to another device belongs; A program for causing a computer to realize the above.

Images