Data processing apparatus and display processing method

• US 6,714,974 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2000
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Machida, Haruo
• Primary Examiner(s): Barot, Bharat
• Application Number:
  US09/544,163
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204-205, 709/223-224, 345/734-737, 345/753, 345/835, 345/853-855
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

There is disclosed a data processing apparatus which uses a visual element to recognizably provide a system environment which flexibly and quickly changes in response to any request for the grasping of the constitution and operation situation of the entire system or the constitution and operation situation of a favorite device registered by each user.

Claims

1. A data processing apparatus which can communicate with a plurality of data processing apparatuses via a network, the data processing apparatus comprising:

first obtaining means for obtaining first information on the plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network;

first display means for displaying icons indicating the plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network on a display based on said first information;

selecting means for selecting a desired data processing apparatus from the plurality of data processing apparatuses;

second display means for displaying the icon indicating the data processing apparatus selected by said selecting means on the display;

display selecting means for selecting either of the display by said first display means and the display by said second display means; and

switch control means for switching the display by said first display means and the display by said second display means in accordance with the selection by said display selecting means.

2. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second display means displays the icon indicating the data processing apparatus of an own machine so that the icon can be distinguished from the icons indicating the other data processing apparatuses.

3. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first information includes information indicating the position in which the icon is disposed.

4. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first information includes information indicating the type of the data processing apparatus.

5. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first information includes information indicating the status of the data processing apparatus.

6. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

designating means for designating the icon displayed on said display; and

executing means for allowing the data processing apparatus indicated by the icon designated by said designating means to execute a processing.

7. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said data processing apparatus comprises a printer.

8. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said data processing apparatus comprises a facsimile machine.

9. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said data processing apparatus comprises a scanner.

10. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said data processing apparatus comprises a digital copying machine.

11. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said data processing apparatus comprises a personal computer.

12. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

generating means for generating second information on the data processing apparatus selected by said selecting means; and

transmitting means for transmitting said second information generated by said generating means to the other data processing apparatuses via the network.

13. The data processing apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said transmitting means comprises receiver selecting means for selecting the data processing apparatus to which said second information is transmitted.

14. The data processing apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising:

second obtaining means for obtaining third information on a predetermined data processing apparatus from another data processing apparatus via the network, among the plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network; and

setting means for setting said second information to be the same as said third information obtained by said second obtaining means.

15. The data processing apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said second obtaining means comprises transmitter selecting means for selecting the data processing apparatus from which said third information is obtained.

16. The data processing apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising change means for changing said third information so that the icon indicating the data processing apparatus of the own machine can be distinguished from the icons indicating the other data processing apparatuses,

said setting means setting said second information to be the same as said third information changed by said change means.

17. A data processing apparatus which can communicate with other data processing apparatuses via a network, the data processing apparatus comprising:

obtaining means for obtaining information of a plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network; and

display control means for displaying icons indicating the plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network in a first area of a display, and displaying an icon indicating a data processing apparatus selected from the plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network in a second area different from said first area of said display, based on said information obtained by said obtaining means.

18. The data processing apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said display control means displays a window by dividing the window into a first window corresponding to said first area, and a second window corresponding to said second area.

19. The data processing apparatus according to claim 17 wherein in said second window, the icons indicating the other data processing apparatuses are arranged centering on and around the icon indicating the data processing apparatus which is an own machine.

20. A display processing method in a data processing apparatus which can communicate with a plurality of data processing apparatuses via a network, the display processing method comprising:

a first obtaining step of obtaining first information on the plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network;

a first display step of displaying icons indicating the plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network on a display based on said first information;

a selecting step of selecting a desired data processing apparatus from the plurality of data processing apparatuses;

a second display step of displaying the icon indicating the data processing apparatus selected by said selecting step on the display;

a display selecting step of selecting either of the display by said first display step and the display by said second display step; and

a switch control step of switching the display by said first display step and the display by said second display step in accordance with the selection by said display selecting step.

21. The display processing method according to claim 20 wherein said second display step comprises displaying the icon indicating the data processing apparatus of an own machine so that the icon can be distinguished from the icons indicating the other data processing apparatuses.

22. The display processing method according to claim 20 wherein said first information includes information indicating the position in which the icon is disposed.

23. The display processing method according to claim 20 wherein said first information includes information indicating the type of the data processing apparatus.

24. The display processing method according to claim 20 wherein said first information includes information indicating the status of the data processing apparatus.

25. The display processing method according to claim 20 further comprising:

a designating step of designating the icon displayed on said display; and

an executing step of allowing the data processing apparatus indicated by the icon designated by said designating step to execute a processing.

26. The display processing method according to claim 20 wherein said data processing apparatus comprises a printer.

27. The display processing method according to claim 20 wherein said data processing apparatus comprises a facsimile machine.

28. The display processing method according to claim 20 wherein said data processing apparatus comprises a scanner.

29. The display processing method according to claim 20 wherein said data processing apparatus comprises a digital copying machine.

30. The display processing method according to claim 20 wherein said data processing apparatus comprises a personal computer.

31. The display processing method according to claim 20 further comprising:

a generating step of generating second information on the data processing apparatus selected by said selecting step; and

a transmitting step of transmitting said second information generated by said generating step to the other data processing apparatuses via the network.

32. The display processing method according to claim 31 wherein said transmitting step comprises a receiver selecting step of selecting the data processing apparatus to which said second information is transmitted.

33. The display processing method according to claim 22 further comprising:

a second obtaining step of obtaining third information on a predetermined data processing apparatus from another data processing apparatus via the network, among the plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network; and

a setting step of setting said second information to be the same as said third information obtained by said second obtaining step.

34. The display processing method according to claim 33 wherein said second obtaining step comprises a transmitter selecting step of selecting the data processing apparatus from which said third information is obtained.

35. The display processing method according to claim 33 further comprising a change step of changing said third information so that the icon indicating the data processing apparatus of the own machine can be distinguished from the icons indicating the other data processing apparatuses,

said setting step comprising setting said second information to be the same as said third information changed by said change step.

36. A display processing method in a data processing apparatus which can communicate with other data processing apparatuses via a network, the display processing method comprising:

an obtaining step of obtaining information of a plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network; and

a display control step of displaying icons indicating the plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network in a first area of a display, and displaying an icon indicating a data processing apparatus selected from the plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network in a second area different from said first area of said display, based on said information obtained by said obtaining step.

37. The display processing method according to claim 36 wherein said display control step comprises displaying a window by dividing the window into a first window corresponding to said first area, and a second window corresponding to said second area.

38. The display processing method according to claim 36 wherein in said second window, the icons indicating the other data processing apparatuses are arranged centering on and around the icon indicating the data processing apparatus which is an own machine.

39. A computer-readable memory medium that stores a display processing program of a data processing apparatus which can communicate with a plurality of data processing apparatuses via a network, said display processing program comprising the steps of:

a first obtaining step of obtaining first information on the plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network;

a first display step of displaying icons indicating the plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network on a display based on said first information;

a selecting step of selecting a desired data processing apparatus from the plurality of data processing apparatuses;

a second display step of displaying the icon indicating the data processing apparatus selected by said selecting step on the display;

a display selecting step of selecting either of the display by said first display step and the display by said second display step; and

a switch control step of switching the display by said first display step and the display by said second display step in accordance with the selection by said display selecting step.

40. The memory medium according to claim 39 wherein said second display step comprises displaying the icon indicating the data processing apparatus of an own machine so that the icon can be distinguished from the icons indicating the other data processing apparatuses.

41. The memory medium according to claim 39 wherein said first information includes information indicating the position in which the icon is disposed.

42. The memory medium according to claim 39 wherein said first information includes information indicating the type of the data processing apparatus.

43. The memory medium according to claim 39 wherein said first information includes information indicating the status of the data processing apparatus.

44. The memory medium according to claim 39 wherein the display processing program further comprises:

a designating step of designating the icon displayed on said display; and

an executing step of allowing the data processing apparatus indicated by the icon designated by said designating step to execute a processing.

45. The memory medium according to claim 39 wherein said data processing apparatus comprises a printer.

46. The memory medium according to claim 39 wherein said data processing apparatus comprises a facsimile machine.

47. The memory medium according to claim 39 wherein said data processing apparatus comprises a scanner.

48. The memory medium according to claim 39 wherein said data processing apparatus comprises a digital copying machine.

49. The memory medium according to claim 39 wherein said data processing apparatus comprises a personal computer.

50. The memory medium according to claim 39 wherein said display processing program further comprises:

a generating step of generating second information on the data processing apparatus selected by said selecting step; and

a transmitting step of transmitting said second information generated by said generating step to the other data processing apparatuses via the network.

51. The memory medium according to claim 50 wherein in said display processing program, said transmitting step comprises a receiver selecting step of selecting the data processing apparatus to which said second information is transmitted.

52. The memory medium according to claim 41 wherein said display processing program further comprises:

a second obtaining step of obtaining third information on a predetermined data processing apparatus from another data processing apparatus via the network, among the plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network; and

a setting step of setting said second information to be the same as said third information obtained by said second obtaining step.

53. The memory medium according to claim 52 wherein in said display processing program, said second obtaining step comprises a transmitter selecting step of selecting the data processing apparatus from which said third information is obtained.

54. The memory medium according to claim 52 wherein said display processing program further comprises a change step of changing said third information so that the icon indicating the data processing apparatus of the own machine can be distinguished from the icons indicating the other data processing apparatuses, and

said setting step comprises setting said second information to be the same as said third information changed by said change step.

55. A computer-readable memory medium that stores a display processing program of a data processing apparatus which can communicate with other data processing apparatuses via a network, the display processing program comprising the steps of:

an obtaining step of obtaining information of a plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network; and

a display control step of displaying icons indicating the plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network in a first area of a display, and displaying an icon indicating a data processing apparatus selected from the plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network in a second area different from said first area of said display, based on said information obtained by said obtaining step.

56. The memory medium according to claim 55 wherein said display control step comprises displaying a window by dividing the window into a first window corresponding to said first area, and a second window corresponding to said second area.

57. The memory medium according to claim 55 wherein in said second window, the icons indicating the other data processing apparatuses are arranged centering on and around the icon indicating the data processing apparatus which is an own machine.

58. A display processing program of a data processing apparatus which can communicate with a plurality of data processing apparatuses via a network, the display processing program comprising:

a first obtaining step of obtaining first information on the plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network;

a first display step of displaying icons indicating the plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network on a display based on said first information;

a selecting step of selecting a desired data processing apparatus from the plurality of data processing apparatuses;

a second display step of displaying the icon indicating the data processing apparatus selected by said selecting step on the display;

a display selecting step of selecting either of the display by said first display step and the display by said second display step; and

a switch control step of switching the display by said first display step and the display by said second display step in accordance with the selection by said display selecting step.

59. The display processing program according to claim 58 wherein said second display step comprises displaying the icon indicating the data processing apparatus of an own machine so that the icon can be distinguished from the icons indicating the other data processing apparatuses.

60. The display processing program according to claim 58 wherein said first information includes information indicating the position in which the icon is disposed.

61. The display processing program according to claim 58 wherein said first information includes information indicating the type of the data processing apparatus.

62. The display processing program according to claim 58 wherein said first information includes information indicating the status of the data processing apparatus.

63. The display processing program according to claim 58 further comprising:

a designating step of designating the icon displayed on said display; and

an executing step of allowing the data processing apparatus indicated by the icon designated by said designating step to execute a processing.

64. The display processing program according to claim 58 wherein said data processing apparatus comprises a printer.

65. The display processing program according to claim 58 wherein said data processing apparatus comprises a facsimile machine.

66. The display processing program according to claim 58 wherein said data processing apparatus comprises a scanner.

67. The display processing program according to claim 58 wherein said data processing apparatus comprises a digital copying machine.

68. The display processing program according to claim 58 wherein said data processing apparatus comprises a personal computer.

69. The display processing program according to claim 58 further comprising:

a generating step of generating second information on the data processing apparatus selected by said selecting step; and

a transmitting step of transmitting said second information generated by said generating step to the other data processing apparatuses via the network.

70. The display processing program according to claim 69 wherein said transmitting step comprises a receiver selecting step of selecting the data processing apparatus to which said second information is transmitted.

71. The display processing program according to claim 60 further comprising:

a second obtaining step of obtaining third information on a predetermined data processing apparatus from another data processing apparatus via the network, among the plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network; and

a setting step of setting said second information to be the same as said third information obtained by said second obtaining step.

72. The display processing program according to claim 71 wherein said second obtaining step comprises a transmitter selecting step of selecting the data processing apparatus from which said third information is obtained.

73. The display processing program according to claim 71 further comprising a change step of changing said third information so that the icon indicating the data processing apparatus of the own machine can be distinguished from the icons indicating the other data processing apparatuses,

said setting step comprising setting said second information to be the same as said third information changed by said change step.

74. A display processing program of a data processing apparatus which can communicate with other data processing apparatuses via a network, the display processing program comprising the steps of:

an obtaining step of obtaining information of a plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network; and

a display control step of displaying icons indicating the plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network in a first area of a display, and displaying an icon indicating a data processing apparatus selected from the plurality of data processing apparatuses connected to the network in a second area different from said first area of said display, based on said information obtained by said obtaining step.

75. The display processing program according to claim 74 wherein said display control step comprises displaying a window by dividing the window into a first window corresponding to said first area, and a second window corresponding to said second area.

76. The display processing program according to claim 74 wherein in said second window, the icons indicating the other data processing apparatuses are arranged centering on and around the icon indicating the data processing apparatus which is an own machine.