Network plug-and-play compliant network relay device

• US 20070263248A1
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Oshima, Yasuhiro, Takada, Yoji
• Application Number:
  US11/652,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20070263248A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1206 resulting in increased flexibility in input data format or job format or job type
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1246 by handling markup languages, e.g. XSL, XML, HTML
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00222 details of image data generation or reproduction, e.g. scan-to-email or network printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00233 details of image data reproduction, e.g. network printing or remote image display using an image reproducing device as a local output from a computer H04N1/00238; digital output from computer to printer unit G06F3/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus

Abstract

A network relay device, which is compliant with network plug-and-play, is used for relaying between a network and a device unit having one or more service devices that provide a service in response to a request from a client on the network. The network relay device includes a data conversion module that, upon receiving from a client a print request message describing in markup language an image for printing, converts the print request message to data for use by the device unit and supplies the converted data to the device unit. The data conversion module creates, as the data for use by the device unit, printer data according to a universal standard acceptable by the device unit.

Claims

1. A network relay device compliant with network plug-and-play, for relay between a network and a device unit having one or more service devices that provide a service in response to a request from a client on the network, the network relay device comprising:

a data conversion module that, upon receiving from a client a print request message describing in markup language an image for printing, converts the print request message to data for use by the device unit and supplies the converted data to the device unit,

wherein the data conversion module creates, as the data for use by the device unit, printer data according to a universal standard acceptable by the device unit.

2. The network relay device according to claim 1, wherein

the device unit is capable of functioning as a printer, and

upon receiving a print request message from a client, the data conversion module creates printer data according to a universal standard to which the printer complies.

3. The network relay device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a USB host terminal for connecting a printer of a first type functioning as a USB device; and

a USB device terminal for connecting a printer of a second type functioning as a USB host,

wherein the data conversion module

(i) determines whether a printer of the first type or of the second type has been connected to the network relay device, depending on whether a printer has been connected to the USB host terminal or the USB device terminal;

(ii) when a printer of the first type has been connected to the network relay device, creates printer data according to a first universal standard, while when a printer of the second type has been connected to the network relay device, creates printer data according to a second universal standard different from the first universal standard.

4. The network relay device according to claim 3, wherein

the printer data according to the first universal standard includes RGB data, and

the printer data according to the second universal standard includes JPEG data.

5. The network relay device according to claim 4, wherein

in the event that a printer of the second type has been connected to the network relay device, the network relay device functions as a USB-compliant still image capture device.

6. The network relay device according to claim 1, comprising:

a device controller that includes the data conversion module and that operates the device unit by exchanging information with the device unit; and

a network protocol controller, connected between the network and the device controller, for receiving from a client on the network a message having a message header and a message body, and for transferring content of the message body to the device controller,

wherein the network protocol controller interprets the message header in accordance with the network plug-and-play protocols, without interpreting the content of the message body received from the client, and sends the message body to the device controller in accordance with a communications protocol different from the network plug-and-play protocols, and

the device controller interprets the content of the message body received from the network protocol controller, and causes the service device to execute a service according to a result of the interpretation.

7. A method for relay, using a network relay device in accordance with the network plug-and-play protocols, between a network and a device unit having one or more service devices that provide a service in response to a request from a client on the network, the method comprising the steps of

(a) receiving from the client a print request message describing in markup language an image for printing;

(b) converting the print request message to data for use by the device unit; and

(c) supplying the data for use by the device unit to the device unit,

wherein the step (b) includes creating printer data according to a universal standard acceptable by the device unit.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein

the device unit is capable of functioning as a printer, and

the printer data is created according to a universal standard to which the printer complies.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the network relay device comprises:

a USB host terminal for connecting a printer of a first type functioning as a USB device; and

a USB device terminal for connecting a printer of a second type functioning as a USB host,

wherein the step (b) includes,

(i) determines whether a printer of the first type or of the second type has been connected to the network relay device, depending on whether a printer has been connected to the USB host terminal or the USB device terminal;

(ii) when a printer of the first type has been connected to the network relay device, creates printer data according to a first universal standard, while when a printer of the second type has been connected to the network relay device, creates printer data according to a second universal standard different from the first universal standard.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein

the printer data according to the first universal standard includes RGB data, and

the printer data according to the second universal standard includes JPEG data.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein

in the event that a printer of the second type has been connected to the network relay device, the network relay device functions as a USB-compliant still image capture device.