Data input/output apparatus couped to a network for accepting direct commands from a data source after receiving request through the server

• US 5,845,076 A
• Filed: 01/02/1996
• Issued: 12/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Arakawa, Naoto
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, DUNG C
• Application Number:
  US08/582,180
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.33, 395/200.32, 395/200.47, 395/200.49, 395/200.51, 395/825, 395/826, 395/834, 395/851
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

An apparatus in a system in which a data source, a server, and the apparatus are connected on a network includes a receiver for receiving a direct command from the data source for requesting direct communication between the data source and the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a judging unit for judging whether a direct command can be accepted when the direct command is received during a data communication with the server, and a controller for interrupting the data communication with the server when it is judged that the direct command can be accepted. The direct command allows a printing/scanning function of a data input/output apparatus connected to the apparatus to be executed without passing through the server.

Claims

1. An apparatus in a system in which a data source, a server, and said apparatus are connected on a network, comprising:

receiving means for receiving a direct command from the data source for requesting a direct communication between the data source and said apparatus;

judging means for judging whether the direct command can be accepted when the direct command is received during a data communication with the server; and

control means for interrupting the data communication with the server in the case where said judging means judges that the direct command can be accepted.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the direct command is a request for transmitting print job data to said apparatus without passing through the server.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the direct command is a request for transmitting scan job data to said apparatus without passing through the server.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a copier is connected to said apparatus.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a printer is connected to said apparatus, and wherein said apparatus directly receives, without passing through the server, data from the data source to be printed by the printer.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a scanner is connected to said apparatus, and wherein said apparatus directly transmits, without passing through the server, data scanned by the scanner to the data source.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a scanner is connected to said apparatus, and wherein said apparatus directly transmits, without passing through the server, monitor information indicative of a scanning state in the scanner to the data source in order to display the monitor information onto a display of the data source.

8. A memory medium in which a program that is used in an apparatus in a system in which a data source, a server, and the apparatus are connected on a network has been stored, comprising the steps of:

receiving a direct command from the data source for requesting a direct communication between the data source and the apparatus;

judging whether the direct command can be accepted when the direct command is received during a data communication with the server; and

storing a program to interrupt the data communication with the server in the case where it is judged in said judging step that the direct command can be accepted.

9. A medium according to claim 8, wherein the direct command is a request for transmitting print job data to the apparatus without passing through the server.

10. A medium according to claim 8, wherein the direct command is a request for transmitting scan job data to the apparatus without passing through the server.

11. A medium according to claim 8, wherein a copier is connected to the apparatus.

12. A medium according to claim 8, wherein a printer is connected to the apparatus, and wherein the apparatus directly receives, without passing through the server, data from the data source to be printed by the printer.

13. A medium according to claim 8, wherein a scanner is connected to the apparatus, and wherein the apparatus directly transmits, without passing through the server, data scanned by the scanner to the data source.

14. A medium according to claim 8, wherein a scanner is connected to said apparatus, and wherein the apparatus directly transmits, without passing through the server, monitor information indicative of a scanning state in the scanner to the data source in order to display the monitor information onto a display of the data source.

15. A data source in a network system in which said data source, a server, and a destination apparatus are connected, said data source comprising:

first transmission means for transmitting data to the destination apparatus through the server;

second transmission means for performing a direct data transmission to the destination apparatus without passing through the server; and

third transmission means for transmitting predetermined data to the server, prior to the direct data transmission performed by said second transmission means.

16. A data source according to claims 15, wherein the predetermined data comprises data for requesting the server to send back status data indicative of a status of the server.

17. A data source according to claim 16, further comprising determining means, responsive to the status data sent back in response to the predetermined data transmitted by said third transmission means, for determining whether the direct data transmission is to be performed by said second transmission means.

18. A data source according to claim 16, wherein the status data comprises queue status data spooled in the server.

19. A data source according to claim 16, wherein said data source requests the destination apparatus to perform the direct data transmission with said data source after transmitting the predetermined data to the server.

20. A method used in a data source in a network system in which the data source, a server, and a destination apparatus are connected, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting data to the destination apparatus through the server;

performing direct data transmission to the destination apparatus without passing through the server; and

transmitting predetermined data to the server, prior to the direct data transmission performed in said step of performing direct data transmission.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the predetermined data transmitted in said transmitting step includes data for requesting the server to send back status data indicative of a status of the server.

22. A method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of:

determining, in response to the status data sent back in response to the predetermined data transmitted in said transmitting step, whether said step of performing direct data transmission is to be performed.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein the status data includes queue status data spooled in the server.

24. A method according to claim 21, wherein the data source requests the destination apparatus to perform said step of performing direct data transmission with the data source after transmitting the predetermined data to the server in said transmission step.