Information input/output control device and method therefor

• US 5,740,028 A
• Filed: 05/29/1997
• Issued: 04/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Fukuda, Yasuo, Hashimoto, Yasuhiko, Yamada, Osamu, Saito, Kazuhiro, Negishi, Tsutomu, Toda, Masanari, Takaoka, Makoto, Yokomizo, Yoshikazu, Shishizuka, Junichi, Toda, Yukari, Sugiyama, Mitsumasa, Sugiura, Susumu, Kobayashi, Shigetada, Mita, Yoshinobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robinson, Greta L.
• Application Number:
  US08/864,903
• Time in Patent Office: 320 Days
• Field of Search: 364/130, 364/138, 364/184, 364/148, 395/200.53, 340/825.06
• US Class Current: 725/149
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/121 Facilitating exception or error detection and recovery, e.g. fault, media or consumables depleted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1234 Errors handling and recovery, e.g. reprinting G06F3/1261 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0085 Error recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00915 Assigning priority to, or interrupting, a particular operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32502 in systems having a plurality of input or output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32512 of different type, e.g. internal and external devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32518 details of interfacing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32609 Fault detection or counter-measures, e.g. original mis-positioned, shortage of paper
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32662 remotely, e.g. to the transmitter from the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0034 Details of the connection, e.g. connector, interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

There is disclosed an information input/output control device and a method for controlling the same which supervises a working condition of an information terminal device connected to the information input/output control device under a network circumstance executing various functional operations, memorizes status informations in a manner enabling to be restarted and executes the functional operations in the information terminal devices other than the preceding one in response to an input of an operation cease information of the preceding information terminal device.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for a plurality of terminal devices, said apparatus comprising:

input means for inputting data transmitted from an external apparatus;

supervision means for supervising working conditions of the plurality of terminal devices;

execution means for causing the plurality of terminal devices to execute functional procedures; and

allowing means for allowing said input means to input the data,

wherein said allowing means is operative, in a case where said input means has inputted first data specifying a first functional procedure to be executed by a first one of the plurality of terminal devices, to allow said input means to input other data even if abnormality information indicating abnormality of the first terminal device is received while the first terminal device is executing the first functional procedure, and

wherein, when said input means inputs second data specifying a second functional procedure to be executed by a second one of the terminal devices subsequent to inputting the first data, and further when the first functional procedure has been interrupted prior to its completion due to abnormality of the first terminal device, said execution means causes the second terminal device to execute the second functional procedure prior to completion of the first functional procedure.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the functional procedures comprise a scanning procedure and a printing procedure.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality information comprises error information input from the first terminal device.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second functional procedure is given a higher priority order than the first functional procedure, and wherein, when the first functional procedure is in the process of being executed when the second data is input, said execution means interrupts the first functional procedure in response to the input of the second data and executes the second functional procedure.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the terminal devices comprises a consolidated terminal device which executes a scanning procedure or a printing procedure in a network environment.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a host computer or a server device which controls the terminal devices in a network environment.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising memory means for storing status information indicating a status of the interrupted first functional procedure, wherein said execution means causes the first terminal device to re-execute the first functional procedure after the abnormality of the first terminal device has been removed, based on the status information stored in said memory means.

2. A control method for control apparatus for a plurality of terminal devices, said method comprising the steps of:

inputting data transmitted from an external apparatus;

supervising working conditions of the plurality of terminal devices;

causing the plurality of terminal devices to execute functional procedures; and

allowing said input step to input the data,

wherein said allowing step is operative, in a case where said input step has inputted first data specifying a first functional procedure to be executed by a first one of the plurality of terminal devices, to allow said input step to input other data even if abnormality information indicating abnormality of the first terminal device is received while the first terminal device is executing the first functional procedure, and

wherein, when said input step inputs second data specifying a second functional procedure to be executed by a second one of the terminal devices subsequent to inputting the first data, and further when the first functional procedure has been interrupted prior to its completion due to abnormality of the first terminal device, said causing step causes the second terminal device to execute the second functional procedure prior to completion of the first functional procedure.

10. A method according to claim 2, wherein the functional procedures comprise a scanning procedure and a printing procedure.

11. A method according to claim 2, wherein the abnormality information comprises error information input from the first terminal device.

12. A method according to claim 2, wherein the second functional procedure is given a higher priority order than the first functional procedure, and wherein, when the first functional procedure is in the process of being executed, said causing step interrupts the first functional procedure in response to the input of the second data and causes the second terminal device to execute the second functional procedure.

13. A method according to claim 2, wherein each of the terminal devices comprises a consolidated terminal device which executes a scanning procedure or a printing procedure in a network environment.

14. A method according to claim 2, wherein the control apparatus comprises a host computer or a server device which controls the terminal devices in a network environment.

15. A method according to claim 2, further comprising a step of storing status information indicating a status of the interrupted first functional procedure, wherein said causing step causes the first terminal device to re-execute the first functional procedure after the abnormality of the first terminal device has been removed, based on the status information stored in said storing step.

3. A data carrying medium for conveying instructions for a programmable processing apparatus such that, when loaded into the apparatus, the apparatus is programmed to perform a method, said method comprising the steps of:

inputting data transmitted from an external apparatus;

supervising working conditions of the plurality of terminal devices;

causing the plurality of terminal devices to execute functional procedures; and

allowing said input step to input the data,

wherein said allowing step is operative, in a case where said input step has inputted first data specifying a first functional procedure to be executed by a first one of the plurality of terminal devices, to allow said input step to input other data even if abnormality information indicating abnormality of the first terminal device is received while the first terminal device is executing the first functional procedure, and

wherein, when said input step inputs second data specifying a second functional procedure to be executed by a second one of the terminal devices subsequent to inputting the first data, and further when the first functional procedure has been interrupted prior to its completion due to abnormality of the first terminal device, said causing step causes the second terminal device to execute the second functional procedure prior to completion of the first functional procedure.

16. A medium according to claim 3, wherein the functional procedures comprise a scanning procedure and a printing procedure.

17. A medium according to claim 3, wherein the abnormality information comprises error information input from the first terminal device.

18. A medium according to claim 3, wherein the second functional procedure is given a higher priority order than the first functional procedure, and wherein, when the first functional procedure is in the process of being executed, said causing step interrupts the first functional procedure in response to the input of the second data and causes the second terminal device to execute the second functional procedure.

19. A medium according to claim 3, wherein each of the terminal devices comprises a consolidated terminal device which executes a scanning procedure or a printing procedure in a network environment.

20. A medium according to claim 3, wherein the apparatus comprises a host computer or a server device which controls the terminal devices in a network environment.

21. A medium according to claim 3, further comprising a step of storing status information indicating a status of the interrupted first functional procedure, wherein said causing step causes the first terminal device to re-execute the first functional procedure after the abnormality of the first terminal device has been removed, based on the status information stored in said storing step.