Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and recording medium

1. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

a main unit including:

an image forming engine configured to output at least one file, and

first circuitry that operates under control of a first operating system (OS); and an operation unit including:

a control panel configured to display information and receive instructions to control the main unit, and

second circuitry that operates under control of a second OS, the second circuitry causing the control panel to display information and receive instructions to control the main unit, the second circuitry being configured to:

receive file identification information corresponding to a plurality of files;

cause the control panel to display thumbnail images corresponding to the plurality of files;

receive a selection indicating a selected at least one file of the plurality of files;

command the image forming engine to output the selected at least one file;

store output information of the selected at least one file in a memory, the output information including file identification information of the selected at least one file; and

cause the control panel to display, based on the stored output information, a screen indicating that the selected at least one file has been output, and indicating at least one of the plurality of files has not been output,

wherein:

the main unit further includes the memory and a web application programming interface (WebAPI),

the second circuitry is further configured to:

in response to receiving a command for outputting the selected at least one file that is stored in an external apparatus, transfer the selected at least one file from the external apparatus to the operation unit;

store the selected at least one file being transferred in the memory, the memory being mounted on the operation unit; and

send an output command to the WebAPI in the main unit, the output command including a file path of the selected at least one file stored in the memory and an output setting, to control the image forming engine to output the selected at least one file based on the output command using the WebAPI.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the file identification information includes a file name uniquely assigned to the selected at least one file.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the file identification information further includes update date and time which indicate when the selected at least one file is updated, and

the second circuitry adds non-output information to the at least one of the plurality of files which has not been output, the at least one of the plurality of files which has not been output having at least one of a file name and an update date and time that does not correspond to the file name and the update date and time included in the output information.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the file name includes location information indicating a location of the selected at least one file in the external apparatus.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein the output information further includes output date and time when the selected at least one file is output, in association with the file name and the update date and time.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the second circuitry further:

registers, when the selected at least one file of the plurality of files is output, the output date and time in association with the file name of the selected at least one file of the plurality of files that is output and the update date and time in the memory.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein:

the second circuitry further requests, when the selected at least one file is output, an external apparatus to transfer the file identification information and update dates and times for the selected at least one file.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second circuitry further:

accepts an instruction for activating an application for outputting the selected at least one file; and

requests an external apparatus to transfer a list of file names and update dates and times for the selected at least one file.

9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second circuitry further:

accepts an input of a command to redisplay the thumbnail images; and

requests an external apparatus to transfer the file identification information.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second circuitry further:

receives a list of folder names each identifying a folder that stores the selected at least one file;

causes the control panel to display a list of folders each identified with the folder name being received;

accepts a selection of at least one folder to be registered as a root folder from the list of folders being displayed;

registers a folder name of the folder being selected as the root folder in the memory; and

receives file names of the selected at least one file and update dates and times stored in the root folder from an external apparatus.

11. The image processing system according to claim 1 , wherein:

the second circuitry communicates using Server Message Block (SMB) protocol.

12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second circuitry is further configured to:

cause the control panel to display an input screen for inputting an address of an external apparatus; and

in response to receiving an instruction for switching a screen after an input of the address of the external apparatus, transfer a command for transferring information on a folder that stores the selected at least one file, to the external apparatus corresponding to the address which has been input.

13. A method for processing images in a device having a main unit which includes an image forming engine configured to output at least one file, and first circuitry that operates under control of a first operating system (OS); and an operation unit which includes a control panel configured to display information and receive instructions to control the main unit, second circuitry that operates under control of a second OS, the second circuitry causing the control panel to display information and receive instructions to control the main unit, the method comprising:

receiving file identification information corresponding to a plurality of files;

displaying thumbnail images corresponding to the plurality of files;

receiving a selection indicating a selected at least one file of the plurality of files;

commanding the image forming engine to output the selected at least one file;

storing output information of the selected at least one file in a memory, the output information including file identification information of the selected at least one file; and

displaying, based on the stored output information, a screen indicating that the selected at least one file has been output, and indicating at least one of the plurality of files has not been output,

wherein:

the main unit further includes the memory and a web application programming interface (WebAPI), and

the method further includes:

in response to receiving a command for outputting the selected at least one file that is stored in an external apparatus, transferring the selected at least one file from the external apparatus to the operation unit;

storing the selected at least one file being transferred in the memory, the memory being mounted on the operation unit; and

sending an output command to the WebAPI in the main unit, the output command including a file path of the selected at least one file stored in the memory and an output setting, to control the image forming engine to output the selected at least one file based on the output command using the WebAPI.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium used with a device having a main unit which includes an image forming engine configured to output at least one file, and first circuitry that operates under control of a first operating system (OS); and an operation unit which includes a control panel configured to display information and receive instructions to control the main unit, and second circuitry that operates under control of a second OS, the second circuitry causing the control panel to display information and receive instructions to control the main unit, the medium storing a program that, when executed causes an implementation of a method comprising:

receiving file identification information corresponding to a plurality of files;

displaying thumbnail images corresponding to the plurality of files;

receiving a selection indicating a selected at least one file of the plurality of files;

commanding the image forming engine to output the selected at least one file;

storing output information of the selected at least one file in a memory, the output information including file identification information of the selected at least one file; and

displaying, based on the stored output information, a screen indicating that the selected at least one file has been output, and indicating at least one of the plurality of files has not been output,

wherein:

the main unit further includes the memory and a web application programming interface (WebAPI), and

the method further includes:

in response to receiving a command for outputting the selected at least one file that is stored in an external apparatus, transferring the selected at least one file from the external apparatus to the operation unit;

storing the selected at least one file being transferred in the memory, the memory being mounted on the operation unit; and

sending an output command to the WebAPI in the main unit, the output command including a file path of the selected at least one file stored in the memory and an output setting, to control the image forming engine to output the selected at least one file based on the output command using the WebAPI.