Communication system, image processing apparatus, control method for image processing apparatus, and storage medium

Abstract

A communication system includes an image processing apparatus, a supporting apparatus capable of providing the remote support service to a user of the image processing apparatus, and a management server configured to associate the image processing apparatus with the supporting apparatus providing the remote support to the image processing apparatus to manage the image processing apparatus and the supporting apparatus. Upon receipt of the remote support service start request from the user, the image processing apparatus requests a relay server to allocate relay information for communication via the relay server, and notifies the management server of the relay information allocated by the relay server. The management server notifies the supporting apparatus managed in association with the image processing apparatus of the relay information. Using the relay information enables the image processing apparatus and the supporting apparatus to communicate with each other to provide the remote support via the relay server.

1 . A method for performing communication via a relay server for remote support to be provided between a supporting apparatus and a supported apparatus via a network, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the supported apparatus, a remote support service start request from a user;   requesting, from the supported apparatus to the relay server, to allocate relay information for performing communication via the relay server according to the supported apparatus having received the received remote support service start request;   determining a supporting apparatus for providing remote support for the supported apparatus; and   notifying the determined supporting apparatus of the relay information allocated by the relay server according to the request;   wherein the supported apparatus and the supporting apparatus perform communication with each other via the relay server using the relay information, so that the supported apparatus is provided with the remote support by the supporting apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the relay information is a uniform resource locator (URL) designated when a request using a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) is transmitted. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the relay server, if a POST request including the designated URL is received from either the supported apparatus or the supporting apparatus, stores data included in the POST request, and, if an GET request including the designated URL is received from either the supported apparatus or the supporting apparatus, transmits the stored data to a requestor. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the relay information allocated by the relay server is notified to the supporting apparatus via a management server managing the supported apparatus and the supporting apparatus by associating them with each other. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the relay information allocated by the relay server is notified from the supported apparatus to the supporting apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the relay information is notified to the supporting apparatus by electric mail. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the relay information is notified to the supporting apparatus as a response to a regular inquiry from the supporting apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . A supported apparatus capable of receiving remote support from a supporting apparatus, the supported apparatus comprising:
 a receiving unit configured to receive a remote support service start request from a user;   a request unit configured to, according to the receiving unit having received the remote support service start request, request a relay server to allocate relay information for performing communication via the relay server;   a notification unit configured to notify the supporting apparatus of the relay information allocated by the relay server according to the request from the request unit; and   a communication unit configured to perform communication with the supporting apparatus via the relay server using the relay information, so that the supported apparatus is provided with the remote support by the supporting apparatus.   
     
     
         9 . The supported apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the relay information is an URL designated when a request using an HTTP is transmitted. 
     
     
         10 . The supported apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the communication unit transmits a GET request including the designated URL and receives data transmitted from the supporting apparatus to the relay server as a response to the GET response. 
     
     
         11 . The supported apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the communication unit transmits a POST request including the designated URL to the relay server. 
     
     
         12 . A control method for a supported apparatus capable of receiving remote support from a supporting apparatus, the control method comprising:
 receiving a remote support service start request from a user;   requesting a relay server to allocate relay information for performing communication via the relay server according to the remote support service start request having been received;   notifying the supporting apparatus of the relay information allocated by the relay server according to the request; and   performing communication with the supporting apparatus via the relay server using the relay information, so that the supported apparatus is provided with the remote support by the supporting apparatus.   
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores a program for causing a computer to execute a control method for a supported apparatus capable of receiving remote support from a supporting apparatus, the control method comprising;
 requesting a relay server to allocate relay information for performing communication via the relay server according to the remote support service start request having been received from a user;   notifying the supporting apparatus of the relay information allocated by the relay server according to the request; and   performing communication with the supporting apparatus via the relay server using the relay information, so that the supported apparatus is provided with the remote support by the supporting apparatus.