Image processing apparatus, uploading method, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with uploading program for outputting a transmission complete signal as a dummy signal

1. An image processing apparatus capable of performing at least one of scanning, printing, copying, and facsimile transmission/reception, the apparatus comprising:

a communication portion which communicates with an external device;

an interface portion which serves as an interface with a user;

a job execution portion which executes at least one of a scan job, a print job, a copy job, and a facsimile transmission/reception job in accordance with an operation accepted by said interface portion;

a browsing portion which communicates with a Web server via said communication portion in accordance with an operation accepted by said interface portion;

a monitoring portion which monitors a communication between said browsing portion and said Web server to acquire communication partner information for specifying said Web server and communication identification information for identifying the communication between said browsing portion and said Web server;

a data acquiring portion which, in response to an event that said monitoring portion detects an upload command for transmitting an image output from said job execution portion to said Web server, acquires on the basis of said upload command the image to be transmitted;

an image transmitting portion which, on behalf of said browsing portion, transmits said acquired image to said Web server on the basis of said acquired communication partner information and said acquired communication identification information; and

a dummy signal output portion which, on behalf of said Web server, outputs a completion signal indicating the completion of the uploading as a dummy signal to said browsing portion before said image transmitting portion finishes the transmission of said image.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said browsing portion includes a discarding portion which, after said completion signal is input, discards said communication identification information that had been determined between said browsing portion and said Web server when said browsing portion communicated with said Web server.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a prohibiting portion which prohibits said browsing portion from communicating with said Web server until said image transmitting portion finishes the transmission of the image.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a warning portion which displays a message indicating that the communication is in progress, on a display portion during a period in which said image transmitting portion is transmitting the image.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an authentication portion which authenticates an operator on the basis of said accepted operation, wherein

said communication identification information is determined between said browsing portion and said Web server when said browsing portion communicates with said Web server on the basis of an operation input to said interface portion by an operator authenticated by said authentication portion, said communication identification information being determined by said Web server for each authenticated operator.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in the case where said monitoring portion detects certificate information and/or an encryption scheme used in the communication between said Web server and said browsing portion, said image transmitting portion, on behalf of said browsing portion, transmits said acquired image to said Web server by using said detected certificate information and/or encryption scheme.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a document reading portion which reads a document to output an image of the document, wherein

said job execution portion acquires an image output from said document reading portion.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a storing portion which stores an image, wherein

said job execution portion acquires an image stored in said storing portion.

9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an image forming portion which forms said image on a sheet of paper.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said job execution portion executes at least one of the scan job, the print job, the copy job, the facsimile transmission/reception job, and an image input/output job.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said communication identification information is session identification information or a cookie.

12. An uploading method carried out in an image processing apparatus, said image processing apparatus being capable of performing at least one of scanning, printing, copying, and facsimile transmission/reception, and including

a communication portion which communicates with an external device, and

an interface portion which serves as an interface with a user,

the uploading method causing said image processing apparatus to execute processing comprising:

a job executing step of executing at least one of a scan job, a print job, a copy job, and a facsimile transmission/reception job in accordance with an operation accepted by said interface portion;

a monitoring step of monitoring a communication between a browsing task and a Web server, the browsing task being formed by executing a browsing program to communicate with the Web server in accordance with an operation accepted by said interface portion, and acquiring communication partner information for specifying said Web server and communication identification information for identifying the communication between said browsing task and said Web server;

an acquiring step of, in response to an event that an upload command for transmitting an image that is output as a result of execution of a job in said job executing step to said Web server is detected in said monitoring step, acquiring on the basis of said upload command the image to be transmitted;

an image transmitting step of transmitting, on behalf of said browsing task, said acquired image to said Web server on the basis of said acquired communication partner information and said acquired communication identification information; and

a dummy signal outputting step of outputting, on behalf of said Web server, a transmission completion signal as a dummy signal to said browsing task before the transmission of said image is finished in said image transmitting step.

13. The uploading method according to claim 12 , causing said image processing apparatus to further execute a step of, after said completion signal is input, discarding said communication identification information that had been determined between said browsing task and said Web server when said browsing task communicated with said Web server.

14. The uploading method according to claim 12 , causing said image processing apparatus to further execute a step of prohibiting said browsing task from communicating with said Web server until the transmission of the image in said image transmitting step is finished.

15. The uploading method according to claim 12 , causing said image processing apparatus to further execute a step of displaying a message indicating that the communication is in progress, on a display portion during a period in which the image is being transmitted in said image transmitting step.

16. The uploading method according to claim 12 , causing said image processing apparatus to further execute an authentication step of authenticating an operator on the basis of said accepted operation, wherein

said communication identification information is determined between said browsing task and said Web server when said browsing task communicates with said Web server on the basis of an operation input to said interface portion by an operator authenticated in said authentication step, said communication identification information being determined by said Web server for each authenticated operator.

17. The uploading method according to claim 12 , wherein said image transmitting step includes a step of, in the case where certificate information and/or an encryption scheme used in the communication between said Web server and said browsing task is detected in said monitoring step, transmitting, on behalf of said browsing task, said acquired image to said Web server by using said detected certificate information and/or encryption scheme.

18. The uploading method according to claim 12 , wherein at least one of the scan job, the print job, the copy job, the facsimile transmission/reception job, and an image input/out job is executed in said job executing step.

19. The uploading method according to claim 12 , wherein said communication identification information is session identification information or a cookie.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with an uploading program carried out in a computer which controls an image processing apparatus, said image processing apparatus being capable of performing at least one of scanning, printing, copying, and facsimile transmission/reception, and including

a communication portion which communicates with an external device,

an interface portion which serves as an interface with a user, and

a job execution portion which executes at least one of a scan job, a print job, a copy job, and a facsimile transmission/reception job in accordance with an operation accepted by said interface portion,

the uploading program causing said computer to execute processing comprising:

a monitoring step of monitoring a communication between a browsing task and a Web server, the browsing task executing a browsing program, and acquiring communication partner information for specifying said Web server and communication identification information for identifying the communication between said browsing task and said Web server;

an acquiring step of, in response to an event that an upload command for transmitting an image output from said job execution portion to said Web server is detected in said monitoring step, acquiring on the basis of said upload command the image to be transmitted;

an image transmitting step of transmitting, on behalf of said browsing task, said acquired image to said Web server on the basis of said acquired communication partner information and said acquired communication identification information; and

a dummy signal outputting step of outputting, on behalf of said Web server, a transmission completion signal as a dummy signal to said browsing task before the transmission of said image is finished in said image transmitting step.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with the uploading program according to claim 20 , wherein the uploading program causes said computer to further execute a step of, after said completion signal is input, discarding said communication identification information that had been determined between said browsing task and said Web server when said browsing task communicated with said Web server.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with the uploading program according to claim 20 , wherein the uploading program causes said computer to further execute a step of prohibiting said browsing task from communicating with said Web server until the transmission of the image in said image transmitting step is finished.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with the uploading program according to claim 20 , wherein the uploading program causes said computer to further execute a step of displaying a message indicating that the communication is in progress, on a display portion during a period in which the image is being transmitted in said image transmitting step.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with the uploading program according to claim 20 , wherein

the uploading program causes said computer to further execute an authentication step of authenticating an operator on the basis of said accepted operation, and

said communication identification information is determined between said browsing task and said Web server when said browsing task communicates with said Web server on the basis of an operation input to said interface portion by an operator authenticated in said authentication step, said communication identification information being determined by said Web server for each authenticated operator.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with the uploading program according to claim 20 , wherein said image transmitting step includes a step of, in the case where certificate information and/or an encryption scheme used in the communication between said Web server and said browsing task is detected in said monitoring step, transmitting, on behalf of said browsing task, said acquired image to said Web server by using said detected certificate information and/or encryption scheme.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with the uploading program according to claim 20 , wherein at least one of the scan job, the print job, the copy job, the facsimile transmission/reception job, and an image input/output job is executed in said job executing step.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium

encoded with the uploading program according to claim 20 , wherein said communication identification information is session identification information or a cookie.