Management system for controlling operation of an image processing apparatus
First Claim
1. An image processing apparatus comprising:
- transmitting means for transmitting line information of the image processing apparatus to an external device;
receiving means for receiving a response from the external device, which is initiated by the external device based upon the transmitted line information; and
restricting means for restricting use of at least some functions of said image processing apparatus until the response is received by said receiving means.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A copier is capable of being managed more effectively by improving a conventional management system that utilizes a communication line. The copier accesses a computer when it is started and transfers its machine ID, which specifies the particular copier, as well as a line ID of the communication channel specifying the place of installation to the computer. When the computer has been accessed, the communication channel is specified from the line ID and then the copier is accessed via the communication channel. In the copier disclosed, contact from the computer is verified after transfer of the machine ID and line ID, and the functions of the copier are allowed to be used after verification of the IDs. Thus, use of the copier is restricted until contact from the computer is verified.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An image processing apparatus comprising:
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transmitting means for transmitting line information of the image processing apparatus to an external device; receiving means for receiving a response from the external device, which is initiated by the external device based upon the transmitted line information; and restricting means for restricting use of at least some functions of said image processing apparatus until the response is received by said receiving means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An image processing apparatus comprising:
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transmitting means for transmitting location information of the image processing apparatus to an external device; receiving means for receiving a response from the external device which is initiated by the external device based upon the transmitted location information; and restricting means for controlling use of functions of said image processing apparatus based upon contents of the response. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer system connected, via a line, to at least one image processing apparatus for communicating with said at least one image processing apparatus, comprising:
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receiving means for receiving line, which identifies said image processing from said at least one image processing apparatus via the line; disconnecting means for disconnecting the line after receiving the line information by said receiving means; and responding means for connecting the line disconnected by said disconnecting means and transmitting a response to said image processing apparatus via the line based upon the line information received by said receiving means.
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10. A computer system connected to at least one image processing apparatus via a communication line, comprising:
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receiving means for receiving identifying information, which includes line information of said image processing apparatus, from said image processing apparatus via said communication line; line connecting means for connecting said communication line to said image processing apparatus by using the line information received by said receiving means; and responding means for responding to reception of the identifying information via the line connected by said line connecting means. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of restricting functions of an image processing apparatus, comprising:
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a transmitting step of transmitting line information of the image processing apparatus to an external device; a receiving step of receiving a response from the external device during a communication initiated by the external device based upon the transmitted line information; and a restricting step of restricting use of at least some functions of said image processing apparatus until the response is received.
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16. A method of restricting functions of an image processing apparatus, comprising:
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a transmitting step of transmitting location information of the image processing apparatus to an external device; a receiving step of receiving a response from the external device during a communication initiated by the external device based upon the location information; and a restricting step of controlling use of functions of said image processing apparatus based upon contents of the response.
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17. A communication method in a computer system connected, via a line, to at least one image processing apparatus for communicating with said at least one image processing apparatus, comprising:
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a receiving step of receiving line information said at least one image processing apparatus; a disconnecting step of disconnecting the line after receiving the line information in said receiving step; and a responding step of connecting the line disconnected in said disconnecting step and transmitting a response to said at least one image processing apparatus via the line based upon the line information received at said receiving step.
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18. A communication method in a computer system connected to at least one image processing apparatus so as to be capable of communicating with said image processing apparatus, comprising:
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a receiving step of receiving identifying information, which includes line information of said image processing apparatus, from said image processing apparatus via said communication line; a line connecting step of connecting said communication line to said image processing apparatus by using the line information received at said receiving step; and a responding step of responding to reception of the identifying information via the communication line connected at said line connecting step.
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19. A management system in which at least one image processing apparatus is connected, via a line, to at least one host device, comprising:
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first transmitting means for transmitting line information of the image processing apparatus from the at least one image processing apparatus to the host device via the line; disconnecting means for disconnecting the line after completing transmission from the first transmitting means; connecting means for connecting the line by the host device based on the line information received from the at least one image processing apparatus; second transmitting means for transmitting a response from the host device to the at least one image processing apparatus via the line; and restricting means for restricting at least some functions of the at least one image processing apparatus until the response is received by the at least one image processing apparatus.
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Specification