Network system in which a plurality of image processing apparatuses are connected

• US 5,935,217 A
• Filed: 04/18/1995
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Tadashi, Yamamoto, Masahito, Kaneko, Satoshi, Sakai, Masanori, Abe, Yoshinori, Kurahashi, Masahiro, Sakai, Akihiko, Kutsuwada, Satoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, RAYMOND NGAN
• Application Number:
  US08/423,966
• Time in Patent Office: 1,575 Days
• Field of Search: 395/828, 395/830, 395/831, 395/200.02, 395/200.03, 395/200.11, 395/200.12, 395/284, 395/835, 395/837, 395/838, 395/500, 395/527, 395/200.5 , 395/200.52, 395/200.54, 395/200.56, 395/220.57, 395/200.58, 395/200.59, 395/200.67, 395/200.79
• US Class Current: 709/249
• 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 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0035 User-machine interface; Control console input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00477 Indicating status, e.g. of a job for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N2201/3219
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• 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 1/32539 Detecting or indicating the status of the output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus H04N2201/0013; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3204 of data relating to a user, sender, addressee, machine or electronic recording medium H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3273 Display

Abstract

The present invention is to allow display based on the setting positions of devices in selection of a desired device to be used, and facilitate selection considering the setting positions of the devices. The present invention can also display equipments so as to allow discrimination between an equipment included in an image processing apparatus and an equipment connected on a communication line. Equipments in a network environment are placed on the first floor (1F), the second floor (2F), and the third floor (3F) in a building and connected through a network (LAN 1300). For example, a computer (1310) collects device information including status information and setting position information from usable input/output devices. For example, status information representing "BUSY" and setting position information representing "3F-B block" are transferred from a virtual optical scanner (1302). The computer (1310) displays the connected input/output devices together with the setting position information obtained from the devices. An image processing apparatus (100) has various input/output devices including a reader unit (1), a printer unit (2), and an image input/output control unit (3). In addition, various input/output equipments (two optical scanner devices (1302, 1303) and three facsimile.

Claims

1. A network system control method of controlling a network system capable of connecting both an input device and an output device, comprising the steps of:

a) collecting setting position information representing setting positions of a plurality of devices connected to a network;

b) collecting type information representing types of the plurality of devices, the type represented by the type information indicating whether a device operates as an input device or an output device;

c) sorting the plurality of devices based on collected type information; and

d) displaying information indicating the plurality of devices in units of the types in accordance with the sorting result of said sorting step together with the setting positions obtained based on the collected setting position information.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of inputting a type of a desired device to be used, and wherein the step (c) includes sorting the plurality of devices on the basis of the input type, and the step (d) includes displaying a setting position of a device corresponding to the input type.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting a desired device to be used from said devices displayed in the step (d).

4. A network system control method of controlling a network system capable of connecting both an input device and an output device, comprising the steps of:

a) collecting setting position information representing setting positions of a plurality of devices connected to a network;

b) designating a group of devices from a plurality of groups to which the plurality of devices are classified, the plurality of groups including a group of input devices connected to the network;

c) displaying data input devices together with the setting positions based on the setting position information collected in the step (a) when the group of input devices is designated in the step (b);

d) selecting a desired input device from said input devices displayed in the step (c); and

e) inputting data from said input device selected in the step (d).

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of reserving said input device selected in the step (d).

6. A network system control method comprising the steps of:

a) collecting setting position information representing setting positions of a plurality of devices connected to a network;

b) designating a group of devices from a plurality of groups to which the plurality of devices are classified, the plurality of groups including a group of output devices connected to the network;

c) displaying data output devices together with the setting positions based on the setting position information collected in the step (a) when the group of output devices is designated in the step (b);

d) selecting a desired output device from said output devices displayed in the step (c); and

e) outputting data to said output device selected in the step (d).

7. A network system control method comprising the steps of:

a) collecting group information representing groups to which a plurality of devices connected to a network are classified and setting position information representing setting positions of said devices;

b) designating a desired group;

c) collecting status information of a device corresponding to the group designated in the step (b); and

d) automatically selecting a target device from a plurality of devices belonging to the designated group by referring to the setting position information collected in the step (a) and the status information collected in the step (c).

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the step (b) includes designating a group of a data input device or a data output device.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the step (d) includes selecting a device near to a position of an operator.

10. A network system controlling apparatus which controls a network system capable of connecting both an input device and an output device, comprising:

collecting means for collecting setting position information representing setting positions of a plurality of devices connected to a network and type information representing types of the plurality of devices, the type represented by the type information indicating whether a device operates as an input device or an output device;

sorting means for sorting the plurality of devices based on the collected type information; and

display means for displaying information indicating the plurality of devices in units of the types in accordance with the sorting result of said sorting means together with the setting positions obtained based on the setting position information collected by said collecting means.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising input means for inputting a type of a desired device to be used, and wherein said display means displays a setting position of a device corresponding to the type input by said input means.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising selection means for selecting a target device from said devices displayed by said display means.

13. A network system controlling apparatus comprising:

first collecting means for collecting group information representing groups to which a plurality of devices connected to a network are classified and setting position information representing setting positions of said devices;

designation means for designating a desired group;

second collecting means for collecting status information of devices corresponding to the group designated by said designation means; and

selection means for automatically selecting a target device from a plurality of devices belonging to the designated group by referring to the setting position information collected by said first collecting means and the status information collected by said second collecting means.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said selection means selects a device near to a position of an operator.

15. A network system control method comprising the steps of:

a) designating a group to which a desired device to be used belongs, the desired device being one of a plurality of devices connected to a network; and

b) displaying a list of devices belonging to the group designated in the step (a) so as to allow discrimination between a device used through said network and a device used without interposing said network.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of collecting group information representing groups to which each of said plurality of devices belongs.

17. A network system control method comprising the steps of:

a) designating a group to which a desired device to be used belongs, the desired device being one of a plurality of devices connected to a network; and

b) displaying a list of devices belonging to the group designated in the step (a) so as to allow discrimination between interfaces of said devices.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of collecting group information representing groups to which each of said plurality of devices belongs.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of collecting group information from the plurality of devices, the group information representing groups classified in accordance with types of said interfaces of said plurality of devices.

20. A network system controlling apparatus comprising:

designation means for designating a group to which a desired device to be used belongs, the desired device being one of a plurality of devices connected to a network; and

display means for displaying a list of devices belonging to the group designated by said designation means so as to allow discrimination between a device used through said network and a device used without interposing said network.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising collecting means for collecting group information form the plurality of devices, the group information representing groups to which each of said plurality of devices belongs.

22. A network system controlling apparatus comprising:

designation means for designating a group to which a desired device to be used belongs, the desired devise being one of a plurality of devices connected to a network; and

display means for displaying a list of devices corresponding to the type input by said input means so as to allow discrimination between interfaces of said devices.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising collecting means for collecting group information from the plurality of devices, the group information representing groups to which each of said plurality of devices belongs.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising collecting means for collecting group information from the plurality of devices, the group information representing groups classified in accordance with said interfaces of said plurality of devices.

25. A computer readable program, stored in a storage medium, for controlling network system comprising the steps of:

a) causing to input a type of a device to be used, the type indicating whether a device operates as an input device or an output device;

b) causing to display list of devices connected to a network in accordance with the type input in the step (a); and

c) causing to select a desired device from the list displayed in the step (b).

26. A network system control method of controlling a network system capable of connecting an input device or an output device, comprising the steps of:

a) collecting type information representing types of a plurality of devices connected to a network, the type indicating whether a device operates as an input device or an output device;

b) sorting the plurality of devices in units of the types on the basis of collected type information; and

c) displaying information indicating the plurality of devices in units of the types in accordance with the sorting result of said sorting step.

27. A network system controlling apparatus comprising:

collecting means for collecting type information representing types of a plurality of devices connected to a network, the type indicating whether a device operates as an input device or an output device;

sorting means for sorting the plurality of devices in units of the types on the basis of the collected type information; and

display means for displaying information indicating the plurality of devices in units of the types in accordance with the sorting result of said sorting means.

28. A network system control method comprising steps of:

a) collecting setting position information representing setting position of a plurality of devices connected to a network;

b) designating a group of devices from a plurality of groups; and

c) outputting information representing devices corresponding to the group designated in the step (b) together with setting position of each device based on the setting position information collected in the step (a).

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the plurality of groups include a group constituted by a plurality of printers.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the plurality of groups include a group constituted by a plurality of scanners.

31. The method according to claim 28, wherein the plurality of groups include a group constituted by a plurality of facsimile apparatus.

32. A network system control method comprising steps of:

a) collecting status information representing status of a plurality of devices connected to a network;

b) designating a group of devices from a plurality of groups; and

c) outputting information representing devices corresponding to the group designated in the step (b) together with status of each device based on the status information collected in the step (a).

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the plurality of groups include a group constituted by a plurality of printers.

34. The method according to claim 32, wherein the plurality of groups include a group constituted by a plurality of scanners.

35. The method according to claim 32, wherein the plurality of groups include a group constituted by a plurality of facsimile apparatus.

36. A network system control method of controlling a network system capable of connecting both an input device and an output device, comprising the steps of:

(a) collecting setting position information representing setting positions of a plurality of devices connected to a network;

(b) collecting type information representing types of the plurality of devices, the type represented by the type information indicating whether a device operates as an input device or an output device;

(c) sorting the plurality of devices based on collected type information;

(d) displaying information indicating the plurality of devices in units of the types in accordance with the sorting result of said sorting step together with the setting positions based on the collected setting position information;

(e) designating either a first mode or a second mode;

(f) manually selecting, when the first mode has been selected in the step (e), a desired device based on information displayed in step (d) and a manual instruction; and

(g) automatically selecting, when the second mode has been selected in the step (e), a target device based on information collected in the steps (a) and (b).

37. A network system control method of controlling a network system capable of connecting both an input device and an output device, comprising the steps of:

(a) collecting setting position information representing setting positions of a plurality of devices connected to a network;

(b) designating a group of devices from a plurality of groups to which the plurality of devices are classified, the plurality of groups including a group of input devices connected to the network;

(c) displaying data input devices together with the setting positions based on the setting position information collected in the step (a) when the group of input devices is designated in the step (b);

(d) setting either a first mode or a second mode;

(e) manually selecting, when the first mode has been set in the step (d), a desired input device from said input devices displayed in the step (c) based on the manual instruction;

(f) automatically selecting, when the second mode has been set, a target input device based on the setting position information collected in the step (a) and the group designated in the step (b); and

(g) inputting data from the input device selected in the steps (e) and (f).

38. A network system control method comprising the steps of:

(a) collecting setting position information representing setting positions of a plurality of devices connected to a network;

(b) designating a group of devices from a plurality of groups to which the plurality of devices are classified, the plurality of groups including a group of output devices connected to the network;

(c) displaying data output devices together with the setting positions based on the setting position information collected in the step (a) when the group of output devices is designated in the step (b);

(d) setting either a first mode or a second mode;

(e) selecting, when the first mode has been set in the step (d), a desired output device from said output devices displayed in the step (c) in accordance with a manual instruction;

(f) automatically selecting, when the second mode has been set in the step (d), a target device based on the setting position information collected in the step (a) and the group designated in the step (b); and

(g) outputting data to the output device selected in the steps (e) and (f).

39. A network system control method comprising the steps of:

(a) collecting group information representing groups of which a plurality of devices connected to a network are classified and setting position information representing setting positions of said devices;

(b) designating a desired group;

(c) collecting status information of devices corresponding to the group designated in step (b);

(d) setting either a first mode or a second mode;

(e) displaying information indicating the devices corresponding to the status information collected in step (c);

(f) selecting, when the first mode has been set in the step (e), a desired device based on the information displayed in step (e) and a manual instruction; and

(g) automatically selecting, when the second mode has been selected, a target device from a plurality of devices belonging to the designated group by referring to the setting position information collected in the step (a) and the status information collected in the step (c).

40. A computer readable program, stored in a storage medium, for controlling a network system comprising the steps of:

(a) causing to input a type of a device to be used, the type indicating whether a device operates as an input device or an output device;

(b) causing to display list of devices connected to a network in accordance with the type input in the step (a);

(c) causing to designate either a first mode or a second mode;

(d) causing to select, when the first mode has been set in the step (c), a desired device from the list displayed in the step (b) in accordance with manual instruction; and

(c) causing to automatically select, when the second mode has been set in the step (c), a proper device based on the type input in the step (a).

41. A network system control method of controlling a network system capable of connecting an input device or an output device, comprising the steps of:

(a) collecting type information representing types of a plurality of devices connected to a network, the type indicating whether a device operates as an input device or an output device;

(b) sorting the plurality of devices in units of the types on the basis of collected type information;

(c) displaying information indicating the plurality of devices in units of the types in accordance with the sorting result of said sorting step;

(d) designating either a first mode and a second mode;

(e) selecting, when the first mode has been designated in the step (d), a desired device based on information displayed in the step (c) and a manual instruction; and

(f) automatically selecting, when the second mode has been selected in the step (d), a target device based on type information collected in the steps (a).

42. A network system control method comprising steps of:

(a) collecting setting position information representing setting position of a plurality of devices connected to a network;

(b) designating a group of devices from a plurality of groups;

(c) outputting information representing devices corresponding to the group designated in the step (b) together with setting position of each device based on the setting position information collected in the step (a);

(d) setting either a first mode and a second mode;

(e) manually selecting, when the first mode has been set in the step (d), a desired device based on information output in the step (c) and a manual instruction; and

(f) automatically selecting, when the second mode has been selected in the step (d), a target device based on setting position information collected in the steps (a) and the group designated in step (b).

43. A network system control method comprising steps of:

(a) collecting status information representing status of a plurality of devices connected to a network;

(b) designating a group of devices from a plurality of groups;

(c) outputting information representing devices corresponding to the group designated in the step (b) together with the status of each device based on the status information collected in step (a);

(d) setting either a first mode or a second mode;

(e) manually selecting, when the first mode has been set in the step (d), a desired device based on information output in the step (c) and a manual instruction; and

(f) automatically selected, when the second mode has been selected in the step (d), a target device based on status information collected in the steps (a) and the group designated in step (b).