Image processing system and storage medium

Abstract

In an image processing system, a multifunction printer carries out image reading or printing in accordance with processing execution condition information stored in a storage apparatus of a host PC. A storage apparatus of a client PC stores processing execution condition information. In a case where the client PC is connected to the host PC via the network, a control apparatus transmits the processing execution condition information stored in the storage apparatus to the host PC. The host PC stores the received processing execution condition information in the storage apparatus.

1 . An image processing system comprising:
 an image forming apparatus;   a client apparatus; and   a host apparatus,   each of said image forming apparatus and said client apparatus being connected with said host apparatus via a network,   said image forming apparatus including at least one of an image reading apparatus which carries out image reading and a printing apparatus which carries out printing,   said host apparatus including a host-side storage apparatus and a host-side control section,   said at least one of the image reading and the printing being carried out in accordance with processing execution condition information stored in the host-side storage apparatus,   said client apparatus including a client-side storage apparatus and a client-side control section,   the client-side storage apparatus storing the processing execution condition information for said at least one of the image reading and the printing,   the client-side control section being configured such that, when said client apparatus is connected with said host apparatus via the network, the client-side control section transmits the processing execution condition information to said host apparatus, and   the host-side control section being configured such that, in a case where the host-side control section receives the processing execution condition information from said client apparatus, the host-side control section causes the host-side storage apparatus to store the processing execution condition information.   
     
     
         2 . The image processing system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the processing execution condition information are a plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information, and identifiers for distinguishing the plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information are added to the plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information, respectively;   in a case where the host-side control section has received a plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information from said client apparatus, the host-side control section checks whether or not an identifier of each of the plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information received from said client apparatus matches any one of identifiers of a plurality of pieces of processing condition information previously stored in the host-side storage apparatus;   in a case where an identifier of one of the plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information received from said client apparatus matches an identifier of one of the plurality of pieces of processing condition information previously stored in the host-side storage apparatus, the host-side control section overwrites the one of the plurality of pieces of processing condition information previously stored in the host-side storage apparatus with the one of the plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information received from said client; and   in a case where the identifier of the one of the plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information received from said client apparatus does not match any one of identifiers of the plurality pieces of processing condition information previously stored in the host-side storage apparatus, the host-side control section stores, in the host-side storage apparatus, the one of the plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information received from said client, as a new piece of processing execution condition information.   
     
     
         3 . The image processing system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said image forming apparatus further includes an image forming apparatus-side display apparatus, an image forming apparatus-side input apparatus, and an image forming apparatus-side control section;   the image forming apparatus-side control section causes the image forming apparatus-side display apparatus to display a processing execution condition setting screen for use in setting a processing execution condition indicated by processing execution condition information;   the image forming apparatus-side control section receives a processing execution condition being set on the processing execution condition setting screen in accordance with an input supplied via the image forming apparatus-side input apparatus, and transmits the processing execution condition to said host apparatus as processing execution condition information;   the host-side control section of said host apparatus stores, in the host-side storage apparatus, the processing execution condition information received from said image forming apparatus, and transmits the processing execution condition information to said client apparatus; and   the client-side control section of said client apparatus stores, in the client-side storage apparatus, the processing execution condition information received from said host apparatus.   
     
     
         4 . The image processing system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the processing execution condition information are a plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information;   the plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information are correlated with a plurality of pieces of icon information, respectively, the plurality of pieces of icon information being indicative of respective icons of the plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information,   the plurality of pieces of icon information are stored in the host-side storage apparatus;   said image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus-side display apparatus, an image forming apparatus-side input apparatus, and image forming apparatus-side control section;   in accordance with an instruction inputted via the image forming apparatus-side input apparatus, the image forming apparatus-side control section obtains, from said host apparatus, the plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information and the plurality of pieces of icon information by transmitting a request to said host apparatus,   the image forming apparatus-side control section causes the image forming apparatus-side display apparatus to display a list of the plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information and the icons indicated by the plurality of pieces of icon information, so that any one of the plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information is selectable, the image forming apparatus-side display apparatus displaying the list of the plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information and the icons in such a manner that the icons are correlated with the plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information, and   in accordance with the request from said image forming apparatus, the host-side control section transmits, to said image forming apparatus, the plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information and the plurality of pieces of icon information.   
     
     
         5 . The image processing system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the processing execution condition information are a plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information;   the plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information are correlated with a plurality of pieces of icon information, respectively, the plurality of pieces of icon information being indicative of respective icons of the plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information,   the plurality of pieces of icon information are stored in the host-side storage apparatus;   said client apparatus further includes a client-side display apparatus and a client-side input apparatus;   the client-side storage apparatus stores a plurality of pieces of icon information indicative of icons;   in a case where the client-side control section is instructed by an input supplied via the client-side input apparatus to add the icons to the plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information, the client-side control section (i) obtains from said host apparatus, by transmitting a request to said host apparatus, the plurality of pieces of icon information indicative of the icons correlated with the plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information which plurality of pieces of icon information are stored in the host-side storage apparatus;   the client-side control section causes the client-side display apparatus to display an icon setting screen showing an icon or icons indicated by the icon information stored in the client-side apparatus but being different from the plurality of pieces of icon information obtained from said host apparatus; and   the client-side control section determines an icon selected on the icon setting screen by an input supplied via the client-side input apparatus, as an icon to be assigned to processing execution condition information which needs an icon.   
     
     
         6 . The image processing system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the client-side storage apparatus stores user information on a plurality of users;   the user information contains identifiers of the plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information, the identifiers being correlated respectively with each of the plurality of users;   in a case where said client apparatus is connected with said host apparatus via the network, the client-side control section transmits to said host apparatus the user information stored in the client-side storage apparatus;   said image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus-side display apparatus, an image forming apparatus-side input apparatus, and an image forming apparatus-side control sections;   in a case where the image forming apparatus-side display apparatus is instructed by a user-specified input supplied via image forming apparatus-side input apparatus to display a processing execution condition information list screen for a specific user, the image forming apparatus-side control section obtains from said host apparatus, by transmitting a request to said host apparatus, display data indicative of the processing execution condition information list screen;   in accordance with the obtained display data, the image forming apparatus-side control section causes the image forming apparatus-side display apparatus to display the processing execution condition information content screen;   the host-side control section stores, in the host-side storage apparatus, the user information received from said client apparatus; and   in accordance with the request from the image forming apparatus, the host-side control section refers to the user information so as to create display data indicative of processing execution condition information list screen which shows a list of pieces of processing execution condition information correlated the specific user, and the host-side control section transmits the display data to said image forming apparatus.   
     
     
         7 . The image processing system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the processing execution condition information further contains additional processing execution condition information indicative of an execution condition of an additional process which is carried out on said client apparatus or on said host apparatus;   the additional processing execution condition information indicates a condition for processing of at least one of (i) an image read by said image reading apparatus and (ii) printing data to be used in printing by said printing apparatus; and   at least one of the client-side control section and the host-side control section carries out the additional process in accordance with the additional processing execution condition information.   
     
     
         8 . The image processing system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the image forming apparatus-side control section causes image forming apparatus-side display apparatus to display a processing execution condition information content screen which shows content of a selected one of the plurality of pieces of processing execution condition information.   
     
     
         9 . The image processing system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: said client apparatus is a portable personal computer. 
     
     
         10 . A computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program for causing an image processing system to operate,
 the image processing system including:   an image forming apparatus;   a client apparatus; and   a host apparatus,   each of said image forming apparatus and said client apparatus being connected with said host apparatus via a network,   said image forming apparatus including at least one of an image reading apparatus which carries out image reading and a printing apparatus which carries out printing,   said host apparatus including a host-side storage apparatus and a host-side control section,   said at least one of the image reading and the printing being carried out in accordance with processing execution condition information stored in the host-side storage apparatus,   said client apparatus including a client-side storage apparatus and a client-side control section,   the client-side storage apparatus storing the processing execution condition information for said at least one of the image reading and the printing,   the client-side control section being configured such that, when said client apparatus is connected with said host apparatus via the network, the client-side control section transmits the processing execution condition information to said host apparatus,   the host-side control section being configured such that, in a case where the host-side control section receives the processing execution condition information from said client apparatus, the host-side control section causes the host-side storage apparatus to store the processing execution condition information, and   the computer-readable storage medium storing at least one of (i) a program for causing a computer to serve as the client-side control section of said client apparatus and (ii) a program for causing a computer to serve as the host-side control section of said host apparatus.