Information input/output control apparatus and method for indicating which of at least one information terminal device is able to execute a functional operation based on environmental information

• US 5,996,029 A
• Filed: 10/15/1996
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• 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): Shin, Christopher B.
• Application Number:
  US08/730,462
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 395/159, 395/180, 395/892, 395/500.44-500.49, 710/15-19, 710/62-74, 909/217-318
• US Class Current: 710/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1297 Printer code translation, conversion, emulation, compression; Configuration of printer parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/328 in the presentation layer [OSI layer 6]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0035 User-machine interface; Control console input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00437 Intelligent menus, e.g. anticipating user selections
• 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 1/32529 of different type, e.g. internal and external devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32534 details of interfacing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32539 Detecting or indicating the status of the output devices
• 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 therefor which displays a list of identification informations indicating an information terminal device with which a functional operation can be executed in response to an acquired environmental information of the information terminal device and in accordance with an input of an indication information which instruct to execute the functional operation.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus connected to at least one terminal control device via a network, a plurality of terminal devices being connected to the at least one terminal control device, each terminal device executing a functional operation, said information processing apparatus comprising:

acquiring means for acquiring status information on a status of each of the plurality of terminal devices;

first input means for inputting an instruction on a desired functional operation;

second input means for inputting a selection instruction for selecting one of the at least one terminal control device; and

display control means for controlling a display to display identification information of one or more of the plurality of terminal devices on the basis of the status information acquired by said acquiring means, wherein said display control means controls the display to display the identification information of one or more of the terminal devices which are connected to the one terminal control device selected through the selection instruction and which can execute the desired functional operation in response to said second input means inputting the selection information.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

third input means for inputting a further selection instruction for selecting one of the terminal devices whose identification information is displayed on the display; and

output means for outputting a functional operation execution command to the one terminal control device selected through the first-mentioned selection instruction in response to said third input means inputting the further selection instruction.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the status information of each terminal device indicates whether the terminal device is operable.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each functional operation comprises one of a printing operation and a scanning operation.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display control means controls the display to display the identification information of the one or more of the plurality of terminal devices distinguishably from identification information of the other terminal devices.

6. An information processing method operative in an information processing apparatus connected to at least one terminal control device via a network, a plurality of terminal devices being connected to the at least one terminal control device, each terminal device executing a functional operation, said information processing method comprising:

an acquiring step of acquiring status information on a status of each of the plurality of terminal devices;

a first input step of inputting an instruction on a desired functional operation;

a second input step of inputting a selection instruction for selecting one of the at least one terminal control device; and

a display control step of controlling a display to display identification information of one or more of the plurality of terminal devices on the basis of the status information acquired in said acquiring step, wherein said display control step control the display to display the identification information of one or more of the terminal devices which are connected to the one terminal control device selected through the selection instruction and which can execute the desired functional operation in response to said second input step inputting the selection instruction.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising:

a third input step of inputting a further selection instruction for selecting one of the terminal devices whose identification information is displayed on the display; and

an output step of outputting a functional operation execution command to the one terminal control device selected through the first-mentioned selection instruction in response to said third input step inputting the further selection instruction.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the status information of each terminal device indicates whether the terminal device is operable.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein each functional operation comprises one of a printing operation and a scanning operation.

10. A method according to claim 6, wherein said display control step controls the display to display the identification information of the one or more of the plurality of terminal devices distinguishably from identification information of the other terminal devices.

11. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing an information processing method operative in an information processing apparatus connected to at least one terminal control device via a network, a plurality of terminal devices being connected to the at least one terminal control device, each terminal device executing a functional operation, said information processing method comprising:

an acquiring step of acquiring status information on a status of each of the plurality of terminal devices;

a first input step of inputting an instruction on a desired functional operation;

a second input step of inputting a selection instruction for selecting one of the at least one terminal control device; and

a display control step of controlling a display to display identification information of one or more of the plurality of terminal devices on the basis of the status information acquired in said acquiring step, wherein said display control step control the display to display the identification information of one or more of the terminal devices which are connected to the one terminal control device selected through the selection instruction and which can execute the desired functional operation in response to said second input step inputting the selection instruction.

12. A medium according to claim 11, said method further comprising:

a third input step of inputting a further selection instruction for selecting one of the terminal devices whose identification information is displayed on the display; and

an output step of outputting a functional operation execution command to the one terminal control device selected through the first-mentioned selection instruction in response to said third input step inputting the further selection instruction.

13. A medium according to claim 11, wherein the status information of each terminal device indicates whether the terminal device is operable.

14. A medium according to claim 11, wherein each functional operation comprises one of a printing operation and a scanning operation.

15. A medium according to claim 11, wherein said display control step controls the display to display the identification information of the one or more of the plurality of terminal devices distinguishably from identification information of the other terminal devices.