Apparatus and method for performing the management of devices

• US 20040187092A1
• Filed: 03/20/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Fujiwara, Akihiko
• Application Number:
  US10/391,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20040187092A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/106
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

When customization is requested for MFP 1a, whether customization is already executed, is determined. When not executed, one or multiple control module to realize the customization is generated. The generated control module is supplied to MFP 1a, and stored at the same time. When executed, one or multiple control module to realize the customization among the stored control modules, is supplied to MFP 1a.

Claims

1. An apparatus for performing the management of devices, comprising:

a decision section which decides whether customization is already executed, when the customization is requested for at least one of said each device;

a generator which generates one or multiple control modules to realize the customization, when the decision section decides not executed;

a communication section which supplies the generated control module to the device which is the object of the customization;

a memory which stores the generated control module as the one to be supplied to said each device; and

a communication section which extracts one or multiple control modules to realize the customization from the stored control modules, and supplies the extracted control module to the device which is the object of the customization, when the decision section decides executed.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an identification section which identifies the originator of the request; and

a control section which limits execution of the customization according to the result of the identification.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the identification section identifies the authority level defined for the originator.

4. An apparatus for performing the management of devices, comprising:

an identification section which identifies the requesting user and the device which is the object of the customization, when the user of said each device requests customization for each device;

a selector section which selects one or multiple customization defined executable for the identified user and device;

a communication section which notifies the identified user of the selected customization, and makes the identified user to specify at least one of the notified customization;

an analyzer which analyzes the attributes of the identified device;

a first decision section which decides whether the specified customization is actually valid for the identified device, according to the result of the analysis;

a second decision section which decides whether the specified customization is already executed, when the first decision section decides valid;

a generator which generates one or multiple control modules to realize the specified customization, when the second decision unit decides not executed;

a communication section which supplies the generated control module to the identified device;

a memory which stores the generated control module as the one to be supplied to said each device; and

a communication section which extracts one or multiple control modules to realize the customization from the stored control modules, and supplies the extracted control module to the identified device, when the second decision section decides executed.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the identification section identifies the authority level defined for the user.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

a third decision section which decides whether customization substitutive for the specified customization exists, when the first decision section decides not valid;

a fourth decision section which decides whether the substitutive customization is already executed, when the third decision section decides exist;

a second generator which generates one or multiple control modules to realize the substitutive customization, when the fourth decision unit decides not executed;

a communication section which supplies the control module generated by the second generator to the identified device;

a control section which stores the control module generated by the second generator in the memory as the one to be supplied to said each device; and

a sixth communication section which when the fourth decision section decides executed, extracts one or multiple control modules to realize the substitutive customization from the control modules stored in the memory, and supplies the extracted control module to the identified device.

7. An apparatus for performing the management of devices, comprising:

a decision section which decides whether customization is already finished, when the customization is requested for at least one of said each device;

a first generation section which generates one or multiple control modules to realize the customization, when the decision section decides not executed;

a communication section which supplies the control module generated by the first generator to the device to be customized;

a memory which stores the history information about the generator of the control module generated by the first generator;

a second generator which generates one or multiple control modules to realize the customization, based on the history information stored in the memory, when the decision unit decides executed; and

a communication section which supplies the control module generated by the second generator to the device which is the object of the customization.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

an identification section which identifies the originator of the request; and

a control section which limits execution of the customization according to the result of the identification.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the identification section identifies the authority level defined for the originator.

10. A method for performing the management of devices, comprising:

deciding whether customization is already finished when the user of said each device requests the customization for at least one of said each device;

generating one or multiple control modules to realize the customization, when the decision unit decides not executed;

supplying the generated control module to the device which is the object of the customization;

storing the generated control module as the one to be supplied to said each device; and

extracting one or multiple control modules to realize the customization from the stored control modules, and supplying the extracted control module to the device which is the object of the customization, when the decision unit decides executed.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

identifying the request source user, when the user of said each device requests customization for said each device; and

limiting execution of the customization according to the result of the identification.