Image processing system

• US 6,697,073 B1
• Filed: 02/17/2000
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Kadota, Masatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella, Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Monestime, Mackly
• Application Number:
  US09/505,733
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• Field of Search: 345/501, 345/530, 345/634, 348/588, 348/589, 348/600, 382/276, 709/222, 709/226, 709/228, 709/229
• US Class Current: 345/501
• 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 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0036 Detecting or checking connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0044 Connecting to a plurality of different apparatus; Using a plurality of different connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0046 Software interface details, e.g. interaction of operating systems
• 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

First, link names of all the USB devices, that are connected to the system at that time, are retrieved, and a port is opened for one of the link names (S10, S20). Then, a command requesting a printer, that is connected to the subject port, to transmit device ID is issued, and a model name is extracted from device ID that is received in response to the command (S30-S50). Then, a serial number is retrieved from the subject link name (S60). Then, a port name such as “BRUSB001[PR1000]”, is created to include both the serial number and the model name (S70). The created port name is registered in S80, and the subject port that has been processed in S20-S80 is closed (S90).

Claims

1. An image processing system, comprising:

at least one image processing device; and

a computer connected to the at least one image processing device, the computer including;

a storage unit storing a connection path information identifying a path, along which each image processing device is connected to the computer;

a request unit requesting each image processing device to transmit, to the computer, information including a distinction name discriminating between the at least on image processing device;

a name extracting unit analyzing the information transmitted from each image processing device to extract the distinction name from the information;

a registration unit creating, for each image processing device, a port name including a combination of the extracted distinction name and the path information stored in the storage unit, the registration unit registering the created port name for each image processing device; and

a display unit displaying the port names for the at least one image processing device based on the contents registered by the registration unit, thereby enabling a user to view the port name of the at least one image processing device to select a desired image processing device among the at least one image processing device, the selected image processing device executing a desired image processing operation.

2. An image processing system applied to a computer, connected to at least one image processing device, the computer being installed with a basic software for providing:

storage means for storing information on a path along which each image processing device is connected to the computer;

display means capable of displaying a port name connectable to each image processing device;

list request means for requesting a port management means to list up all of at least one port name managed by the port management means; and

data request means for designating one port name among the at least one port name listed up by the display means and for requesting either one of transmission and reception of data via the designated port,

the image processing system including the port management means for managing at least one port for the at least one image processing device, the port management means including;

information request means for requesting each image processing device to transmit, to the computer, information including distinction name discriminating the each image processing device from other image processing device,

character string creating means for creating a character string discriminating the each image processing device from other image processing device based on the information transmitted from each image processing device;

port name creating means for creating, for each image processing device, a port name that includes the created character string; and

a port name list up means for controlling the display means to list up the port name for the at least one image processing device in response to the request by the list request means provided by the basic software.

3. An image processing system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the character string creating means creates a character string that indicates one path information stored in the storage means provided by the basic software.

4. An image processing system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the character string creating means includes extracting means for creating the character string by extracting the distinction name from the information that is transmitted from each image processing device in response to the request.

5. An image processing system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the computer is provided with a universal serial bus, each image processing device being connected to the universal serial bus via a hub.

6. A data recording medium recording a program so as to be readable by a computer connectable to at least one image processing devices, the computer being installed with a basic software for providing:

storage means for storing information on a path, along which each image processing device is connected to the computer;

display means capable of displaying a port name connectable to each image processing device;

list request means for requesting port management means to list up all of at least one port name managed by the port management means; and

data request means for designating one port name among the at least one port name listed up by the display means and for requesting either one of transmission and reception of data via the designated port,

the program providing the port management means for managing at least one port for the at least one image processing device, the program including;

a program requesting each image processing device to transmit, to the computer, information including distinction name discriminating the each image processing device from other image processing device;

a program creating a character string discriminating the each image processing device from other image processing device based on the information transmitted from each image processing device;

a program creating, for each image processing device, a port name that includes the created character string; and

a program controlling the display means to list up the at least one port name for the at least one image processing device in response to the request by the list request means provided by the basic software.

7. An image processing system, comprising:

a plurality of image processing devices; and

a computer connected to the plurality of image processing devices, the computer including;

a storage unit storing a connection path information identifying a path, along which each image processing device is connected to the computer;

a request unit requesting each image processing device to transmit, to the computer, information including a distinction name discriminating between the plurality of image processing devices;

a name extracting unit analyzing the information transmitted from each image processing device to extract the distinction name from the information;

a registration unit creating, for each image processing device, a port name including a combination of the extracted distinction name and the path information stored in the storage unit, the registration unit registering the created port names for the plurality of image processing devices; and

a display unit displaying the port names for the plurality of image processing devices based on the contents registered by the registration unit, thereby enabling a user to view the port names of the plurality of image processing devices to select a desired image processing device among the plurality of image processing devices, the selected image processing device executing a desired image processing operation.

8. An image processing system applied to a computer, connected to a plurality of image processing devices, the computer being installed with a basic software for providing:

storage means for storing information on a path, along which each image processing device is connected to the computer;

display means capable of displaying a port name connectable to each image processing device;

list request means for requesting a port management means to list up all of a plurality of port names managed by the port management means; and

data request means for designating one port name among the plurality of port names listed up by the display means and the requesting either one of transmission and reception of data via the designated port,

the image processing system including the port management means for managing a plurality of ports for the plurality of image processing devices, the port management means including;

information request means for requesting each image processing device to transmit, to the computer, information including distinction name discriminating the each image processing device from other image processing devices;

character string creating means for creating a character string discriminating the each image processing device from other image processing device based on the information transmitted from each image processing device;

port name creating means for creating, for each image processing device, a port name that includes the created character string; and

a port name list up means for controlling the display means to list up the port names for the plurality of image processing devices in response to the request by the list request means provided by the basic software.

9. A data recording medium recording a program so as to be readable by a computer connectable to a plurality of image processing devices, the computer being installed with a basic software for providing:

storage means for storing information on a path, along which each image processing device is connected to the computer;

display means capable of displaying a port name connectable to each image processing device;

list request means for requesting port management means to list up all of a plurality of port names managed by the port management means; and

data request means for designating one port name among the plurality of port names listed up by the display means and for requesting either one of transmission and reception of data via the designated port,

the program providing the port management means for managing a plurality of ports for the plurality of image processing devices, the program including;

a program requesting each image processing device to transmit, to the computer, information including distinction name discriminating the each image processing device from other image processing device;

a program creating a character string discriminating the each image processing device from other image processing device based on the information transmitted from each image processing device;

a program creating, for each image processing device, a port name that includes the created character string; and

a program controlling the display means to list up the port names for the plurality of image processing devices in response to the request by the list request means provided by the basic software.