Image forming system and method of operating an image forming system

• US 6,671,060 B1
• Filed: 10/26/1998
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Gunning, Chris R., Frederiksen, Dellas G., Fresk, J. Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Kimberly
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ghee, Ashanti
• Application Number:
  US09/181,383
• Time in Patent Office: 1,891 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.1, 358/1.9, 358/505, 358/474, 358/1.13
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• 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

Abstract

The present invention includes an image forming system and method of operating an image forming system. According to one aspect, the present invention provides an image forming system including an accessory device including a processor configured to control at least one operation of the accessory device; an image forming device coupled with the accessory device and including a storage device; and wherein the storage device of the image forming device is configured to store operational data useable by the accessory device, and the image forming device is configured to output the operational data and the accessory device is configured to receive the operational data, and the processor is configured to control the at least one operation of the accessory device responsive to the operational data.

Claims

1. An image forming system comprising:

an accessory device including a processor configured to control at least one operation of the accessory device;

an image forming device coupled with the accessory device and including a storage device; and

wherein the storage device of the image forming device is configured to store operational data usable by the accessory device, and the image forming device is configured to output the operational data and the accessory device is configured to receive the operational data, and the processor is configured to control the at least one operation of the accessory device responsive to the operational data.

2. The image forming system according to claim 1 wherein the accessory device is configured to request the operational data from the image forming device.

3. The image forming system according to claim 1 wherein the image forming device includes an interface configured to receive modified operational data.

4. The image forming system according to claim 1 wherein the operational data comprises at least one of executable code and plural configuration parameters.

5. The image forming system according to claim 1 wherein the accessory device comprises a scanner and the image forming device comprises a printer.

6. The image forming system according to claim 1 wherein the accessory device comprises an input device adapted to receive an image to be reproduced and to output image data pertaining to the image to the image forming device.

7. The image forming system according to claim 1 wherein the accessory device includes:

a first storage device configured to store boot code; and

a second storage device configured to store the operational data.

8. The image forming system according to claim 7 wherein the boot code instructs the processor to request the operational data from the image forming device.

9. The image forming system according to claim 1 wherein the operational data comprises firmware.

21. The image forming system according to claim 1 wherein the operational data comprises executable code.

22. The image forming system according to claim 21 wherein the accessory device is configured to provide image data pertaining to an image and the image forming device comprises a printer.

23. The image forming system according to claim 1 wherein the image forming device is configured to physically render an image upon media responsive to image data from the accessory device.

10. An image forming system comprising:

an accessory device including;

a scanner configured to generate image data of an image to be reproduced;

a storage device; and

a processor configured to control at least one operation of the accessory device;

a printer coupled with the accessory device and including;

a print engine configured to print images upon media;

a print engine controller configured to control the print engine responsive to the image data;

a storage device; and

wherein the storage device of the printer is configured to store operational data comprising executable code usable by the accessory device, and the printer is configured to output the operational data and the accessory device is configured to receive the operational data and store the operational data within the storage device of the accessory device, and the processor is configured to control the at least one operation of the accessory device responsive to the operational data.

11. A method of operating an image forming system comprising:

providing an image forming device having a storage device;

storing operational data using the storage device of the image forming device;

coupling an accessory device with the image forming device;

communicating the operational data from the storage device of the image forming device to the accessory device; and

controlling at least one operation of the accessory device using the operational data.

12. The method according to claim 11 further comprising forwarding image data from the accessory device to the image forming device.

13. The method according to claim 11 wherein the providing comprises providing a printer and the coupling comprises coupling a scanner with the printer.

14. The method according to claim 11 further comprising:

storing modified operational data within the storage device of the image forming device; and

communicating the modified operational data from the storage device to the accessory device.

15. The method according to claim 11 further comprising:

requesting the operational data using the accessory device and the communicating being responsive to the requesting.

16. The method according to claim 11 further comprising:

storing boot code within a first storage device of the accessory device; and

storing the operational data within a second storage device of the accessory device.

17. The method according to claim 16 further comprising booting the accessory device using the boot code.

18. The method according to claim 11 wherein the storing comprises storing at least one of executable code and plural configuration parameters.

19. The method according to claim 11 wherein the storing comprises storing firmware.

20. The method according to claim 11 further comprising processing the operational data and the controlling being responsive to the processing.

24. The method according to claim 20 wherein the processing and the controlling comprise processing and controlling using processing circuitry of the accessory device.