Information processing apparatus and method

• US 6,477,589 B1
• Filed: 03/15/1999
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Makoto, Nakamura, Atsushi, Katano, Kiyoshi, Suzuki, Naohisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, TIM T
• Application Number:
  US09/270,210
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 710/18, 710/9, 710/10, 710/19, 710/8
• US Class Current: 710/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40052 High-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus bus transfer protocol on a daisy chain bus using an embedded synchronisation G06F13/426
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

In a 1394 network where a number of devices are connected, it is not easy to specify corresponding between a displayed device and a real device. Accordingly, “selection-candidate update processing, to find a new device and “processing for displaying candidates meeting set conditions” to display candidates which meet set conditions are provided, so as to display a device list window displaying selection candidates in a case where a set condition is, e.g., “printer”.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

acquisition means for acquiring device information from a memory of a device connected to a serial bus, wherein the device information is related to the device and is read only through the serial bus;

setting means for setting search conditions for searching for devices connected to the serial bus; and

control means for generating a list of devices meeting the set search conditions, based on the device information acquired by said acquisition means,

wherein the device information includes at least capability information indicative of a capability of the device,

wherein the capability information includes at least information on a range of handled capability information, transfer capability information in function-based communication, and function-based application capability information, and

wherein the transfer capability information in function-based communication is information indicative of communication protocols of the device, and information indicating whether or not a plurality of communication protocols can be simultaneously supported or information indicative of use priority of the protocols.

2. An information processing apparatus comprising:

acquisition means for acquiring device information from a memory of a device connected to a serial bus, wherein the device information is related to the device and is read only through the serial bus;

setting means for setting search conditions for searching for devices connected to said serial bus and priorities of the search conditions; and

control means for generating a list of devices meeting the set search conditions, in descending order of the set priorities, based on the device information acquired by said acquisition means.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, in the list, names respectively unique to the devices are used.

4. An information processing apparatus comprising:

acquisition means for acquiring device information from a memory of a device connected to a serial bus, wherein the device information is related to the device and is read only through the serial bus;

setting means for setting search conditions for searching for devices connected to the serial bus, priorities of the search conditions, and a search range; and

control means for acquiring the device information within the set search range by using said acquisition means, and generating a list of devices meeting the set search conditions, in descending order of the set priorities.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, in the list, names respectively unique to the devices are used.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, in the list, model-based serial numbers of the devices are used.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the device information includes at least information indicative of location of the device and information indicative of a hierarchical position of the device.

8. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising display means for displaying said list, wherein, if a device is selected from the list displayed by said display means, said control means causes said display means to display detailed information of the selected device.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, in the list, among the devices with the serial numbers, a serial number of a device connected to the serial bus after reset of the serial bus is not changed.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, in the list, the serial numbers of the devices are not changed, even if a device disconnected from the serial bus after reset of the serial bus exists, in a predetermined number of bus reset operations.

11. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, in the list, the serial numbers of the devices are not changed, even if a device disconnected from the serial bus after reset of the serial bus exists, for a predetermined period.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein information indicative of a location of the device included in the device information is displayed.

13. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein information indicative of a capability of the device included in the device information is displayed.

14. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein information indicative of a function of the device included in the device information is displayed.

15. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein transport information of the device included in the device information is displayed.

16. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein information indicative of a status of use of the device included in the device information is displayed.

17. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein information indicative of a connection status of the device included in the device information is displayed.

18. An information processing method, comprising the steps of:

acquiring device information from a memory of a device connected to a serial bus, wherein the device information is related to the device and is read only through the serial bus;

setting search conditions for searching for devices connected to the serial bus and priorities of the search conditions; and

generating a list of devices meeting the set search conditions, in descending order of the set priorities, based on the device information at acquired in said acquiring step.

19. An information processing method, comprising the steps of:

acquiring device information from a memory of a device connected to a serial bus, wherein the device information is related to the device and is read only through the serial bus;

setting search conditions for searching for devices connected to the serial bus, priorities of the search conditions, and a search range; and

acquiring the device information within the set search range set, and generating a list of devices meeting the set search conditions, in descending order of the set priorities.

20. A computer program product, comprising a computer-readable medium with computer program code for executing an information processing method, said program product comprising:

acquiring process procedure code for acquiring device information from a memory of a device connected to a serial bus, wherein the device information is related to the device and is read only through the serial bus;

setting process procedure code for setting search conditions for searching for devices connected to the serial bus and priorities of the search conditions; and

generating process procedure code for generating a list of devices meeting the set search conditions, in descending order of the set priorities, based on the device information acquired by said acquiring process.

21. A computer program product, comprising a computer-readable medium with computer program code for executing an information processing method, said program product comprising:

acquiring process procedure code for acquiring device information from a memory of a device connected to a serial bus, wherein the device information is related to the device and is read only through the serial bus;

setting process procedure code for setting search conditions for searching for devices connected to the serial bus, priorities of the search conditions, and a search range; and

generating process procedure code for acquiring the device information within the set search range by using acquisition means, and generating a list of devices meeting the set search conditions, in descending order of the set priorities.

22. An information processing method that switches a protocol for a plurality of types of devices, said method comprising the steps of:

executing an initial protocol regardless of a switched protocol; and

executing protocols unique to the plurality of types of devices, subsequent to the initial protocol,

wherein the initial protocol includes a first process for examining a topology map of a first type of devices on a serial bus, and a second process for examining a topology map of a second type of devices to output data to the first type of devices on the serial bus,

wherein the first process includes a process for obtaining information indicative of at least a status and a capability of a printer device, and

wherein the second process includes a process for obtaining information indicative of at least a status and a capability of an image input device.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the printer device is an ink-jet printer.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein, when a protocol unique to the printer device has been executed, image data of an image to be printed is transmitted from the image input device to the printer device.

25. The method according to claim 22, wherein the image data is obtained by photoelectric conversion by image-sensing means of the image input device.

26. A printer device that switches a protocol in accordance with a host device, said printer device comprising:

protocol execution means for executing an initial protocol regardless of a switched protocol, and a protocol unique to a printer device subsequent to the initial protocol; and

reception means for receiving image data for printing after execution of the protocol unique to the printer device,

wherein the initial protocol includes a first process for examining a topology map of printer devices on a serial bus, and a second process for examining a topology map of image input devices to output data to the printer devices on the serial bus,

wherein the first process includes a process for obtaining information indicative of at least a status and a capability of the printer devices, and

wherein the second process includes a process for obtaining information indicative of at least a status and a capability of the image input devices.