Cooperative processing system and cooperative processing method

Abstract

A cooperative processing system includes an operation terminal and a cooperative processing device connected to each other, and is connectable to a plurality of electronic devices. The cooperative processing system causes one of electronic devices to function as an input device to cause electronic data to be input therefrom and one of the electronic devices to function as an output device to output the electronic data. The cooperative processing system includes an obtaining unit to obtain input device information to specify the input device and output device information to specify the output device, an input control unit to cause the input device to input electronic data through a first interface according to the input device information, and an output control unit to cause the output device to output the electronic data through a second interface according to the output device information in an format appropriate for the output device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooperative processing system including an operation terminal and a cooperative processing device connected to each other, the cooperative processing system being connectable to a plurality of electronic devices, the cooperative processing system performing a cooperative process causing one of the plurality of electronic devices to function as an input device to cause electronic data to be input therefrom and one of the plurality of electronic devices to function as an output device to output the electronic data, the cooperative processing system comprising:
 an obtaining unit configured to obtain input device information from a first image taken by the operation terminal to specify the input device from the plurality of electronic devices and output device information from a second image taken by the operation terminal to specify the output device from the plurality of electronic devices;   an input control unit configured to cause the input device specified by the input device information to input electronic data therefrom through a first interface according to the input device information; and   an output control unit configured to cause the output device specified by the output device information to output the electronic data through a second interface according to the output device information in an output format appropriate for the output device.   
     
     
         2 . The cooperative processing system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first image contains a third image including the input device information, and   the second image contains a fourth image including the output device information.   
     
     
         3 . The cooperative processing system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a receiving unit configured to receive an input instruction to perform an input process or an output instruction to perform an output process; and   a display configured to display a first screen for taking the first image upon receiving the input instruction at the receiving unit and a second screen for taking the second image upon receiving the output instruction at the receiving unit,   wherein the obtaining unit obtains the input device information from the first image taken by using the first screen displayed by the display and the output device information from the second image taken by using the second screen displayed by the display.   
     
     
         4 . The cooperative processing system of  claim 1 ,
 a receiving unit configured to receive an input-output instruction to perform an input-output process; and   a display configured to display a first screen for taking the first image and a second screen for taking the second image upon receiving the input-output instruction at the receiving unit,   wherein the obtaining unit obtains the input device information from the first image taken by using the first screen displayed by the display and the output device information from the second image taken by using the second screen displayed by the display.   
     
     
         5 . A cooperative processing method using a cooperative system including an operation terminal and a cooperative processing device connected to each other, the cooperative system being connectable to a plurality of electronic devices, the cooperative processing system performing a cooperative process causing one of the plurality of electronic devices to function as an input device to cause electronic data to be input therefrom and one of the plurality of electronic devices to function as an output device to output the electronic data, the cooperative processing method comprising steps of:
 obtaining input device information from a first image taken by the operation terminal to specify the input device from the plurality of electronic devices and output device information from a second image taken by the operation terminal to specify the output device from the plurality of electronic devices by the operation terminal;   controlling an input by causing the input device specified by the input device information to input electronic data therefrom through a first interface according to the input device information; and   controlling an output by causing the output device specified by the output device information to output the electronic data through a second interface according to the output device information in an output format appropriate for the output device.