IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM, COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SYSTEM, AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM

• US 20190310806A1
• Filed: 04/02/2019
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kikuchi, Shou
• Granted Patent: US 11,068,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1231 Device related settings, e.g. IP address, Name, Identification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1232 Transmitting printer device capabilities, e.g. upon request or periodically
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00506 Customising to the data to be displayed

Abstract

A system includes a communication apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and an information processing apparatus. The communication apparatus includes a first network interface connected to a network and a second network interface connected to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a third network interface connected to the network and a fourth network interface connected to the communication apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a fifth network interface connected to the network and a display device. When the information processing apparatus transmits a plurality of predetermined search packets to the network, a response packet transmitted from one of the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus reaches the information processing apparatus, based on at least a result of predetermined communication between the second network interface and the fourth network interface, and the information processing apparatus displays a screen based on the response packet.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a communication apparatus;

an image forming apparatus; and

an information processing apparatus,

the communication apparatus comprising;

a first network interface connected to a network; and

a second network interface connected to the image forming apparatus,

the image forming apparatus comprising;

a third network interface connected to the network; and

a fourth network interface connected to the communication apparatus,

the information processing apparatus comprising;

a fifth network interface connected to the network; and

a display device configured to display information,

wherein, in a case in which the information processing apparatus transmits a plurality of predetermined search packets to the network, a response packet transmitted from one of the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus and containing name information on the image forming apparatus reaches the information processing apparatus, based on at least a result of predetermined communication between the second network interface and the fourth network interface, and the information processing apparatus displays a screen based on the response packet on the display device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined communication is communication for the communication apparatus to obtain network information on the image forming apparatus.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein, in response to receiving the predetermined search packet, the communication apparatus determines whether to transfer the predetermined search packet to the image forming apparatus, based on the network information.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein, in response to receiving a response packet responding to the predetermined search packet from the image forming apparatus, the communication apparatus determines whether to transfer the response packet to the information processing apparatus, based on the network information.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein the network information is information available for determining whether the image forming apparatus includes a wired network interface other than the fourth network interface.

6. The system according to claim 2, wherein the network information includes at least connection state information on the third network interface.

7. The system according to claim 2, wherein the network information includes at least network information of an IP address set to the third network interface.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined communication is communication for the image forming apparatus to obtain network information on the communication apparatus.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein, in response to receiving the predetermined search packet, the image forming apparatus determines whether to respond to the predetermined search packet, based on the network information.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein, in response to receiving a search packet transferred from the communication apparatus, the image forming apparatus determines whether to respond to the search packet, based on the network information.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein, in response to receiving a response packet responding to the predetermined search packet from the image forming apparatus, the communication apparatus determines whether to transfer the response packet to the information processing apparatus, based on the network information.

12. The system according to claim 8, wherein the network information is information available for determining whether the communication apparatus includes a wired network interface other than the second network interface.

13. The system according to claim 8, wherein the network information includes at least connection state information on the first network interface.

14. The system according to claim 8, wherein the network information includes at least network information of an IP address set to the first network interface.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined communication is executed at least one of timing when the communication apparatus is started, timing when the image forming apparatus and the communication apparatus are linked together, and timing when an instruction is given by a user.

16. A communication apparatus comprising:

a first network interface connected to a network;

a second network interface connected to an image forming apparatus; and

at least one controller configured to function as;

a unit that obtains network information on the image forming apparatus via the second network interface;

a unit that obtains one of a plurality of search packets transmitted from an external device to the network via the first network interface; and

a unit that determines, in response to receiving the search packet, whether to transfer the search packet to the image forming apparatus, based on at least the network information.

17. A method for controlling a communication apparatus comprising a first network interface connected to a network and a second network interface connected to an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

obtaining network information on the image forming apparatus via the second network interface;

obtaining one of a plurality of search packets transmitted to the network via the first network interface; and

in response to receiving the search packet, determining whether to transfer the search packet to the image forming apparatus, based on at least the network information.

18. A storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method for controlling a communication apparatus comprising a first network interface connected to a network and a second network interface connected to an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

obtaining network information on the image forming apparatus via the second network interface;

obtaining one of a plurality of search packets transmitted to the network via the first network interface; and

in response to receiving the search packet, determining whether to transfer the search packet to the image forming apparatus, based on at least the network information.