IEEE 1394 function control apparatus and method of controlling multiple functions

• US 20040267969A1
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Uchida, Takayuki
• Application Number:
  US10/834,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20040267969A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881

Abstract

A function control apparatus is disclosed, which includes multiple function service units configured to operate in response to receipt of a signal from another apparatus via an IEEE 1394 bus, and a control service unit configured to identify one or more of the function service units to be activated, to activate the identified function service unit, and to stop the activated identified function service unit. According to the above arrangements, the function control apparatus does not activate a function service unit that is not to be activated.

Claims

1. A function control apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of function service units configured to operate in response to receipt of a signal from another apparatus via an IEEE 1394 bus;

a control service unit configured to identify one or more of the function service units to be activated, to activate the identified function service unit, and to stop the activated identified function service unit.

2. The function control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the control service unit transmits a bus reset signal to the other apparatus via the IEEE 1394 bus, the bus reset signal notifying the other apparatus that the identified function service unit is in an operable state, at a point of time determined based on the number of the identified function service units.

3. The function control apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the control service unit, when all of the identified function service units are in the operable state, transmits the bus reset signal to the other apparatus.

4. The function control apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the control service unit, even when not all of the identified function service units are in the operable state, if a predetermined period of time has passed, transmits the bus reset signal to the other apparatus.

5. The function control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein

if the control service unit determines that no function service unit is to be activated, the control service unit stops.

6. The function control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the function control apparatus is a multifunction peripheral that functions as a printer and a scanner.

7. The function control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein

when a function module fails, one of the function service units corresponding to the failed function module informs the control service unit of the failure of the function module.

8. The function control apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein

when the function module fails, the one of the function service units corresponding to the failed function module stops after the informing of the failure of the function module.

9. The function control apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein

the control service unit monitors the failed function module, and if the failed function module recovers, the control service unit reactivates the one of the function service units corresponding to the recovered function module.

10. The function control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein

when the control service unit stops, the control service unit informs the function service units of the stopping.

11. The function control apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein

the function service units stop in response to the information from the control service unit that the control service unit is stopping.

12. A method of controlling a plurality of function services, comprising the steps of:

identifying one or more of the function services to be activated in response to receipt of a signal from another apparatus via an IEEE 1394 bus;

activating the identified function service; and

stopping the activated identified function service.

13. A computer program that causes a computer to perform a method of controlling a plurality of function services, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying one or more of the function services to be activated in response to receipt of a signal from another apparatus via an IEEE 1394 bus;

activating the identified function service; and

stopping the activated identified function service.