AUTOMATED OUTPUT OF USER GUIDE

• US 20030090700A1
• Filed: 12/08/1998
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: MATSUBAYASHI, DON HIDEYASU
• Granted Patent: US 6,954,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

An interface card for a device with image output capabilities. The interface card includes a connector for connecting to the device and a controller. The controller sends data for output of an image of a quick-start guide from the interface card to the device through the connector. The controller sends the data once without error and does not send the data to the device again unless the interface card is reset with respect to whether the data has been sent. In the preferred embodiment, the interface card further includes a non-volatile memory, and the controller stores an indication that the data has been sent without error in the non-volatile memory in a case that the data has been sent without error. The controller uses the indication to determine if the data has been sent once without error, and the interface card is reset with respect to whether the data has been sent by resetting the indication. Examples of interface cards according to the invention include, but are not limited to, CD-ROM and DVD cards for computer systems with displays and/or printers, display interface cards, and network interface cards for printers.

Claims

1. An interface card for a device with image output capabilities, comprising:

a connector for connecting to the device;

a controller for sending data for output of an image of a quick-start guide from the interface card to the device through the connector, wherein the data is sent once without error after the card is installed in the device.

2. The interface card according to claim 1, further including a non-volatile memory,

wherein the controller stores an indication in the non-volatile memory that the data has been sent without error in a case that the data has been sent without error,

wherein the interface card uses the indication to determine if the data has been sent once without error, and

wherein the interface card is reset with respect to whether the data has been sent by resetting the indication.

3. An interface card for a device with image output capabilities, comprising:

a connector for connecting to the device;

a controller for sending data for output of an image of a quick-start guide from the interface card to the device through the connector, wherein the data is sent once without error, and once without error following each reset of the interface card with respect to whether the data has been sent.

4. The interface card according to claim 3, further including a non-volatile memory,

wherein the controller stores an indication in the non-volatile memory that the data has been sent without error in a case that the data has been sent without error,

wherein the interface card uses the indication to determine if the quick-start guide has been sent once without error, and

wherein the interface card is reset with respect to whether the data has been sent by resetting the indication.

5. An interface card according to claim 4, wherein the interface card comprises a network interface card, and wherein the device generates printed output and is connectable to a network through the interface card.

6. An interface card according to claim 5, wherein the data is sent in the form of a print job.

7. An interface card according to claim 5, wherein the quick-start guide includes networking information for connecting the device to the network through the network interface card.

8. An interface card according to claim 4, wherein the interface card comprises a CD-ROM interface card, and the device comprises a computer system.

9. An interface card according to claim 8, wherein the computer system has a display connected thereto, and wherein the image of the quick-start guide is output through the display.

10. An interface card according to claim 8, wherein the computer system has a printer connected thereto, and wherein the image of the quick-start guide is output through the printer onto a recording medium.

11. An interface card according to claim 8, wherein the controller sends the data from the CD-ROM interface card to the computer system by performing the following steps of:

sending a signal to the computer system that ordinarily would be sent when a CD-ROM has been inserted into a CD-ROM drive connected to the CD-ROM interface card;

intercepting a request from the computer system for a filename for an executable program;

sending the filename for the executable program to the computer system in response to the request for the filename, the executable program residing in the CD-ROM interface card;

intercepting a request from the computer system for the executable program; and

sending the executable program to the computer system in response to the request for the executable program,

wherein when the computer system executes the executable program, the executable program causes the computer system to output an image of the quick-start guide.

12. An interface card according to claim 4, wherein the interface card comprises a DVD interface card, and the device comprises a computer system.

13. An interface card according to claim 4, wherein the interface card comprises a display interface card, and the device comprises a display that is connectable to a computer system through the display interface card.

14. An interface card according to claim 13, wherein the data comprises RGB pixel information and synch information.

15. An interface card according to claim 4, wherein the controller also detects if the data is sent without error.

16. An interface card according to claim 4, wherein the controller detects information about the device and modifies the data in accordance with the detected information.

17. An interface card according to claim 4, wherein the non-volatile memory comprises a

18. An interface card according to claim 17, wherein the NVRAM stores firmware for the interface card, and wherein in a case the firmware is updated by reloading the NVRAM, the indication that the data has been sent without error is reset.

19. An interface card according to claim 4, wherein the non-volatile memory comprises an EEPROM.

20. An interface card according to claim 19, wherein the EEPROM stores firmware for the interface card, and wherein in a case the firmware is updated by flashing the EEPROM, the indication that the data has been sent without error is reset.

21. An interface card according to claim 4, wherein the device has a housing and wherein the interface card is disposed within the housing.

22. An interface card according to claim 4, wherein the device has a housing and where the interface card has a housing different than the housing for the device.

23. An interface card for a device with image output capabilities, comprising:

a connector for connecting to the device;

a memory for storing data for output of an image of a quick-start guide;

a non-volatile memory for storing an indication of whether or not the data has been sent without error to the connector;

a controller responsive to application of power for (1) sending the data to the connector in a case that the indication stored in the non-volatile memory indicates that the data has not been sent without error; and

(2) storing the indication that the data has been sent without error in a case that the data has been sent without error to the connector.

24. A network interface card for connecting an image output device to a network, comprising:

a connector for connecting to an image output device;

a memory for storing data for output of an image of a quick-start guide;

a non-volatile memory for storing an indication of whether or not the data has been sent without error to the connector;

a controller responsive to application of power for (1) sending the data to the connector in a case that the indication stored in the non-volatile memory indicates that the data has not been sent without error; and

(2) storing the indication that the data has been sent without error in a case that the data has been sent without error to the connector.