Information processing apparatus, network system, device-map display method, and storage medium

• US 20010017620A1
• Filed: 02/08/2001
• Published: 08/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Nara, Shigeo
• Granted Patent: US 7,260,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/328 Computer systems status display G06F11/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units

Abstract

An information processing apparatus provides the user with a status of a device on a network correctly and efficiently to improve the work efficiency of the user. A display unit displays a device map according to information previously stored in a storage unit, when an application for displaying the device map (status of the device on the network) is activated, and re-displays the device map thereafter according to the latest information obtained by an obtaining unit.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus capable of activating an application for displaying information of a device on a network on a display screen, comprising:

storage means for storing information of the device on the network in a resident memory;

first display control means for displaying information of the device on the network on the display screen according to the information stored in the storage means, when the application is activated;

obtaining means for obtaining information of the device on the network through the network when the application is activated; and

second display control means for updating a content of the information displayed by the first display control means, according to the information obtained by the obtaining means.

2. An information processing apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein the device is one of a computer and a peripheral device connected to the computer through a predetermined interface.

3. An information processing apparatus according to

claim 2

, wherein the peripheral device is one of a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile machine.

4. An information processing apparatus according to

claim 2

, wherein the obtaining means obtains information related to the peripheral device from the computer to which the peripheral device is connected.

5. An information processing apparatus according to

claim 2

, wherein the obtaining means obtains information related to the computer and the peripheral device connected to the computer, from a management apparatus on the network.

6. An information processing apparatus according to

claim 1

, further comprising changing means for updating the information of the device on the network stored in the resident memory, according to the information obtained by the obtaining means.

7. An information processing apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein the second display control means displays a progress of obtaining information by the obtaining means, on the display screen.

8. An information processing apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein the second display control means displays status information of a device for which the status information has been changed from a time when the application is first activated, in a predetermined display form.

9. An information processing apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein the obtaining means sequentially obtains status information of each device on the network in an order based on a predetermined condition.

10. An information processing apparatus according to

claim 9

, further comprising registration means for specifying the predetermined condition externally.

11. An information processing apparatus according to

claim 1

, further comprising determination means for determining whether the information of the device on the network stored in the storage means is dynamic information, which is changed as time passes,

wherein the first display control means displays information of the device on the network on the display screen, according to information which is determined not to be dynamic information by the determination means.

12. An information processing apparatus according to

claim 11

, wherein the second display control means updates the content of the information displayed by the first display control means, according to dynamic information of the device on the network obtained by the obtaining means.

13. An information processing apparatus according to

claim 12

, wherein the second display control means changes a form of a symbol of the information of the device displayed by the first display control means, according to the dynamic information of the device on the network obtained by the obtaining means.

14. An information processing apparatus according to

claim 13

, wherein the dynamic information includes information related to a state of expendables for the device.

15. An information processing apparatus according to

claim 13

, wherein the dynamic information includes information related to whether an error has occurred in the device.

16. An information processing apparatus according to

claim 13

, wherein the dynamic information includes information related to whether the device is in use.

17. An information processing method for displaying information of a device on a network on a display screen, comprising:

a reading step of reading information of the device on the network from a resident memory;

a first display control step of displaying information of the device on the network on the display screen according to the information stored in the resident memory, when the application is activated;

an obtaining step of obtaining information of the device on the network through the network when the application is activated; and

a second display control step of updating a content of the information displayed in the first display control step, according to the information obtained in the obtaining step.

18. An information processing method according to

claim 17

, wherein the device is one of a computer and a peripheral device connected to the computer through a predetermined interface.

19. An information processing method according to

claim 18

, wherein the peripheral device is one of a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile machine.

20. An information processing method according to

claim 18

, wherein information related to the peripheral device is obtained from the computer to which the peripheral device is connected, in the obtaining step.

21. An information processing method according to

claim 18

, wherein information related to the computer and the peripheral device connected to the computer is obtained from a management apparatus on the network in the obtaining step.

22. An information processing method according to

claim 17

, further comprising a changing step for updating the information of the device on the network stored in the resident memory, according to the information obtained in the obtaining step.

23. An information processing method according to

claim 17

, wherein a progress of obtaining information in the obtaining step is displayed on the display screen in the second display control step.

24. An information processing method according to

claim 17

, wherein status information of a device for which the status information has been changed from a time when the application is first activated is displayed in a predetermined display form in the second display control step.

25. An information processing method according to

claim 17

, wherein status information of each device on the network is sequentially obtained in an order based on a predetermined condition in the obtaining step.

26. An information processing method according to

claim 25

, further comprising a registration step of specifying the predetermined condition externally.

27. An information processing method according to

claim 17

, further comprising a determination step of determining whether the information of the device on the network stored in the resident memory is dynamic information, which is changed as time passes,

wherein information of the device on the network is displayed on the display screen in the first display control step according to information which is determined not to be dynamic information in the determination step.

28. An information processing method according to

claim 27

, wherein the content of the information displayed by the first display control step is updated in the second display control step according to dynamic information of the device on the network obtained in the obtaining step.

29. An information processing method according to

claim 28

, wherein a form of a symbol of the information of the device displayed in the first display control step is changed in the second display control step according to the dynamic information of the device on the network obtained in the obtaining step.

30. An information processing method according to

claim 28

, wherein the dynamic information includes information related to a state of expendables for the device.

31. An information processing method according to

claim 28

, wherein the dynamic information includes information related to whether an error has occurred in the device.

32. An information processing method according to

claim 28

, wherein the dynamic information includes information related to whether the device is in use.

33. A computer program for displaying information of a device on a network on a display screen, comprising:

a reading step of reading information of the device on the network from a resident memory;

a first display control step of displaying information of the device on the network on the display screen according to the information stored in the resident memory, when the application is activated;

an obtaining step of obtaining information of the device on the network through the network when the application is activated; and

a second display control step of updating a content of the information displayed in the first display control step, according to the information obtained in the obtaining step.

34. A computer program according to

claim 33

, wherein the device is one of a computer and a peripheral device connected to the computer through a predetermined interface.

35. A computer program according to

claim 34

, wherein the peripheral device is one of a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile machine.

36. A computer program according to

claim 34

, wherein information related to the peripheral device is obtained from the computer to which the peripheral device is connected, in the obtaining step.

37. A computer program according to

claim 34

, wherein information related to the computer and the peripheral device connected to the computer is obtained from a management apparatus on the network in the obtaining step.

38. A computer program according to

claim 33

, further comprising a changing step for updating the information of the device on the network stored in the resident memory, according to the information obtained in the obtaining step.

39. A computer program according to

claim 33

, wherein a progress of obtaining information in the obtaining step is displayed on the display screen in the second display control step.

40. A computer program according to

claim 33

, wherein status information of a device for which the status information has been changed from a time when the application is first activated is displayed in a predetermined display form in the second display control step.

41. A computer program according to

claim 33

, wherein status information of each device on the network is sequentially obtained in an order based on a predetermined condition in the obtaining step.

42. A computer program according to

claim 41

, further comprising a registration step of specifying the predetermined condition externally.

43. A computer program according to

claim 33

, further comprising a determination step of determining whether the information of the device on the network stored in the resident memory is dynamic information, which is changed as time passes,

wherein information of the device on the network is displayed on the display screen in the first display control step according to information which is determined not to be dynamic information in the determination step.

44. A computer program according to

claim 43

, wherein the content of the information displayed by the first display control step is updated in the second display control step according to dynamic information of the device on the network obtained in the obtaining step.

45. A computer program according to

claim 44

, wherein a form of a symbol of the information of the device displayed in the first display control step is changed in the second display control step according to the dynamic information of the device on the network obtained in the obtaining step.

46. A computer program according to

claim 44

, wherein the dynamic information includes information related to a state of expendables for the device.

47. A computer program according to

claim 44

, wherein the dynamic information includes information related to whether an error has occurred in the device.

48. A computer program according to

claim 44

, wherein the dynamic information includes information related to whether the device is in use.

49. A computer readable memory for storing the computer program described in

claim 33

.

50. An information processing apparatus capable of activating an application for displaying information of a device on a network on a display screen, comprising:

a storage unit for storing information of the device on the network in a resident memory;

a first display control unit for displaying information of the device on the network on the display screen according to the information stored in the storage unit, when the application is activated;

an obtaining unit for obtaining information of the device on the network through the network when the application is activated; and

a second display control unit for updating a content of the information displayed by the first display control unit, according to the information obtained by the obtaining unit.