Information processing system displaying a selection state of a plurality of devices at the devices by a respective plurality of selection circuits

• US 6,286,059 B1
• Filed: 12/04/1997
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sugiura, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): DU, THUAN N
• Application Number:
  US08/985,259
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 364/230, 364/228.2, 345/508, 345/503, 340/825.31, 709/100, 709/200, 709/220, 709/224, 710/14
• US Class Current: 710/14
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5075 Remote control machines, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5087 for receiving image data

Abstract

An information processing system is connected to a plurality of devices, each device having a respective display and realizing at least one respective function from a plurality of functions, each device further being able to select any of the functions. The system includes a function control that controls the function of the devices and is connected to the devices. The function control causes the display of each of the devices to display a selection state indicating a status of function processing by all of the devices, and is responsive to selection of one of the functions at one of the devices to cause the selected function to be performed. In its operation, the function control can assign appropriate processing to at least one of the devices, or can transmit the results of function processing among the devices to enable addition/deletion/correction of the results.

Claims

1. An information processing system connected to a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices including respective displays and realizing at least one respective function of a plurality of functions, including a high-fidelity image processing function, wherein each device includes a selection circuit adapted for selecting one of the plurality of functions, said system comprising:

a function control circuit adapted for controlling the plurality of functions, including the high-fidelity image processing function, of the plurality of devices; and

a connector for connecting said function control circuit to the plurality of devices,

wherein said function control circuit causes the respective displays of the plurality of devices to display a selection state indicating a status of function processing by the plurality of devices,

wherein said function control circuit is responsive to a selection of the high-fidelity image processing function at one of the plurality of devices to cause the selected high-fidelity image processing function to be performed by assigning appropriate image processing to at least one of the plurality of devices, and

wherein said high-fidelity image processing function includes an image density processing.

2. An information processing system connected to a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices including respective displays and realizing at least one respective function of a plurality of functions, including a high-fidelity image processing function, wherein each device includes a selecting circuit adapted for selecting one of the plurality of functions, said system comprising:

a function control circuit adapted for controlling the plurality of functions, including the high-fidelity image processing function, of the plurality of devices; and

a connector for connecting said function control circuit to the plurality of devices,

wherein said function control circuit causes the respective displays of the plurality of devices to display a selection state indicating a status of function processing by the plurality of devices,

wherein said function control circuit is responsive to a selection of the high-fidelity image processing function at one of the plurality of devices to cause the selected high-fidelity image processing function to be performed,

wherein said function control circuit transmits results of function processing among the plurality of devices to enable addition/deletion/correction of the results, and

wherein said high-fidelity image processing function includes an image density processing.

3. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein a respective specific ID number is added to each of the results, and a result is obtained from any of the plurality of devices by the respective specific ID number.

4. A print network system comprising:

a print terminal including;

a first communication circuit adapted for communicating with a network,

a memory for storing a plurality of items of information received through said first communication circuit from the network, the plurality of items of information instructing respective printing operations, said memory maintaining each item of information and a respective code identifying each maintained item of information after a respective printing operation is completed, and

a print engine for performing the respective printing operations in accordance with the plurality of items of information sorted in said memory; and

a network terminal including;

a second communication circuit adapted for communicating with the network,

an instruction input circuit adapted for inputting information instructing the respective printing operations,

a code input circuit adapted for inputting a code identifying the information inputted by said instruction input circuit,

an output circuit adapted for outputting the code inputted by said code input circuit through said second communication circuit over the network to said print terminal, and

a receiver for receiving, from said print terminal, an item of information stored in said memory for the outputted code, and for informing an operator of the received information.

5. The print network system according to claim 4, wherein said print terminal has a copying function.

6. The print network system according to claim 4, wherein a respective code is automatically assigned to each item of information by said system.

7. The print network system according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of items of information includes an instruction for editing an image to be printed by said print engine.

8. The print network system according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of items of information includes an instruction indicating a print method to be used by said print engine.

9. The print network system according to claim 8, wherein said instruction designates at least one of double-sided printing, a number of copies, and staple sorting.