Parameter setting system, device and parameter setting program

• US 20060067336A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Matsuda, Makoto
• Granted Patent: US 8,326,952 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/397
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

A parameter setting system includes a setting device and setting target devices. The setting device includes a protocol inquiry mechanism that inquires the setting target device about a communication protocol acceptable to the setting target device; and a setting command mechanism that commands the setting target device to set the function parameter necessary to perform a communication function according to a communication protocol notified in response to an inquiry by the protocol inquiry mechanism. The setting target device includes a protocol response mechanism that notifies the protocol inquiry mechanism of information with respect to a protocol acceptable to the setting target device in response to the inquiry received from the protocol inquiry mechanism; and a commanded setting execution mechanism that sets the function parameter commanded to be set by the setting command mechanism.

Claims

1. A parameter setting system, comprising a plurality of devices connected to a network,

the parameter setting system being configured such that a function parameter necessary to perform a communication function available through the network is capable of being set by a setting device among the plurality of devices in a setting target device among the plurality of devices except the setting device,

wherein the setting device includes:

a protocol inquiry mechanism that inquires the setting target device about a communication protocol acceptable to the setting target device; and

a setting command mechanism that commands the setting target device to set the function parameter necessary to perform a communication function according to a communication protocol notified in response to an inquiry by the protocol inquiry mechanism,

and wherein the setting target device includes;

a protocol response mechanism that notifies the protocol inquiry mechanism of information with respect to the communication protocol acceptable to the setting target device in response to the inquiry received from the protocol inquiry mechanism; and

a commanded setting execution mechanism that sets the function parameter commanded to be set by the setting command mechanism,

2. The parameter setting system as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the setting device includes an information obtaining mechanism that obtains, from one of the plurality of devices, at least one piece of device information indicating the function parameter and a communication protocol according to which a communication function is performed using the function parameter,

and wherein the setting command mechanism commands the setting target device to set the function parameter indicated by the at least one piece of device information obtained by the information obtaining mechanism, when a communication protocol indicated by the at least one piece of device information is identical with the communication protocol notified by the protocol inquiry mechanism.

3. The parameter setting system as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the setting device includes a necessity determination mechanism that determines whether or not a function parameter to be commanded to be set by the setting command mechanism according to the communication protocol notified in response to the inquiry by the protocol inquiry mechanism is the function parameter necessary to perform a communication function according to the communication protocol acceptable to the setting target device,

and wherein the setting command mechanism commands the setting target device to set a function parameter determined necessary by the necessity determination mechanism.

6. The parameter setting system as set forth in claim 3,

wherein the setting device includes an obtaining source selection mechanism that allows a user to select a device, from which the function parameter is to be obtained, from among the plurality of devices,

and wherein the information obtaining mechanism obtains the device information from the device selected by the obtaining source selection mechanism.

7. The parameter setting system as set forth in claim 2,

wherein the setting device includes a setting selection mechanism that notifies a content indicated by the device information obtained by the information obtaining mechanism and allows a user to select whether or not to set the function parameter indicated by the notified device information in the setting target device,

and wherein the setting command mechanism commands the setting target device to set the function parameter selected by the user to be set after the content is notified by the setting selection mechanism.

8. The parameter setting system as set forth in claim 1,

wherein at least each of the plurality of devices except the setting device includes mechanisms included by the setting target device,

wherein the setting device includes a setting target selection mechanism that allows a user to select a device as the setting target device,

and wherein the setting command mechanism commands the setting target device selected by the setting target selection mechanism to set the function parameter.

9. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting device according to claim 1.

10. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting device according to claim 2.

11. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting device according to claim 3.

14. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting device according to claim 6.

15. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting device according to claim 7.

16. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting device according to claim 8.

17. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting target device according to claim 1.

18. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting target device according to claim 2.

19. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting target device according to claim 3.

22. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting target device according to claim 6.

23. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting target device according to claim 7.

24. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting target device according to claim 8.

25. A parameter setting program that makes a computer system execute a variety of processes so as to function as all the mechanisms included by the setting device according to claim 1.

26. A parameter setting program that makes a computer system execute a variety of processes so as to function as all the mechanisms included by the setting target device according to claim 1.

4. A parameter setting system, comprising a plurality of devices connected to a network,

the parameter setting system being configured such that a function parameter necessary to perform a communication function available through the network is capable of being set by a setting device among the plurality of devices in a setting target device among the plurality of devices except the setting device,

wherein the setting device includes:

a setting command mechanism that commands the setting target device to set the function parameter necessary to perform a communication function according to a specified communication protocol,

and wherein the setting target device includes;

a necessity determination mechanism that determines whether or not a function parameter commanded to be set by the setting command mechanism is a function parameter necessary to perform a communication function according to a communication protocol acceptable to the setting target device; and

a setting execution mechanism that sets a function parameter determined necessary by the necessity determination mechanism to perform a communication function according to the communication protocol acceptable to the setting target device.

5. The parameter setting system as set forth in claim 4,

wherein the setting device includes an information obtaining mechanism that obtains, from one of the plurality of devices, at least one piece of device information indicating the function parameter and a communication protocol according to which a communication function is performed using the function parameter,

and wherein the setting command mechanism transmits the function parameter indicated by the at least one piece of device information obtained by the information obtaining mechanism based on the at least one piece of device information.

12. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting device according to claim 4.

13. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting device according to claim 5.

20. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting target device according to claim 4.

21. A device comprising all the mechanisms included by the setting target device according to claim 5.