Image processing method and image processing system using the same

Abstract

An image processing method is performed by an image supply device storing image data and an image output device performing image processing with respect to the image data, which are connected via a communication path through which the image data is communicated. A control information item including a script for image processing, which is described by a markup language, is communicated between the image supply device and the image output device. The image data is transmitted to the image output device, based on the script.

1 . An image output device, adapted to be communicatively connected, by way of a communication path, to an image supply device storing an image data file, comprising: 
 a communicator, operable to:    receive, from the image supply device, a job specifying file describing a stored location of the image data file;    transmit, to the image supply device, a first command including a first tag specifying a base path to obtain an object ID assigned to the image data file associated with the job specifying file;    receive the object ID from the image supply device; and    receive, from the image supply device, the image data file based on the object ID; and    an image output section, operable to output an image based on the image data file.    
   
   
       2 . The image output device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first command further includes a second tag specifying the image data file.  
   
   
       3 . The image output device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first tag includes a numeral value.  
   
   
       4 . The image output device as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the first tag includes a <basePathID> tag and a </basePathID> tag; and    the numeral value is placed between the <basePathID> tag and the </basePathID> tag.    
   
   
       5 . The image output device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the first command further includes a second tag specifying, with a numeral value, a relative path from a base directory to the image file; and    the first tag specifies the base directory.    
   
   
       6 . The image output device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the communicator is operable to transmit, to the image supply device, a second command operable to obtain a part of the image data file; and    the communicator is operable to receive the whole of the image data file by transmitting the second command at plural times.    
   
   
       7 . The image output device as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first protocol, adapted to specify the image data file with a path; and    a second protocol, which is a protocol lower than the first protocol, and adapted to specify the image data file with an object ID, wherein:    the communicator is operable to convert a first-protocol-based command including the object ID to a second-protocol-based command; and    the communicator is operable to receive the image data file with the second-protocol-based command.    
   
   
       8 . An image supply device, adapted to be communicatively connected, by way of a communication path, to an image output device operable to output an image based on an image data file, comprising: 
 a storage, storing the image data file; and    a communicator, operable to:    transmit, to the image output device, a job specifying file describing a stored location of the image data file;    receive, from the image output device, a first command including a first tag specifying a base path to obtain an object ID assigned to the image data file associated with the job specifying file;    transmit, the object ID to the image output device; and    transmit, to the image output device, the image data file based on the object ID.    
   
   
       9 . The image supply device as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the communicator is operable to transmit, to the image output device, a reply including the first tag and a second tag specifying the object ID, when the communicator receives the first command.  
   
   
       10 . The image supply device as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the reply further includes a third tag specifying the image data file.  
   
   
       11 . The image supply device as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the first tag includes a numeral value.  
   
   
       12 . The image supply device as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein: 
 the first tag includes a <basePathID> tag and a </basePathID> tag; and    the numeral value is placed between the <basePathID> tag and the </basePathID> tag.    
   
   
       13 . The image supply device as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the reply further includes a third tag specifying, with a numeral value, a relative path from a base directory to the image file; and    the first tag specifies the base directory.    
   
   
       14 . The image supply device as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the communicator is operable to receive, from the image output device, a second command operable to obtain a part of the image data file; and    the communicator is operable to transmit the whole of the image data file by transmitting the part of the image data file in response to the second command at plural times.    
   
   
       15 . The image supply device as set forth in  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a first protocol, adapted to specify the image data file with a path; and    a second protocol, which is a protocol lower than the first protocol, and adapted to specify the image data file with an object ID, wherein:    the communicator is operable to transmit the object ID in response to a first-protocol-based command transmitted from the image output device; and    the communicator is operable to transmit the image data file in response to a second-protocol-based command transmitted from the image output device.    
   
   
       16 . A method of transmitting and receiving an image data file, comprising: 
 connecting, by way of a communication path, an image supply device storing the image data file and an image output device operable to output an image based on the image data file;    transmitting, from the image supply device to the image output device, a job specifying file describing a stored location of the image data file;    transmitting, from the image output device to the image supply device, a first command including a first tag specifying a base path to obtain an object ID assigned to the image data file associated with the job specifying file;    transmitting the object ID from the image supply device to the image output device; and    transmitting, from the image supply device to the image output device, the image data file based on the object ID.