Device searching apparatus

• US 6,996,555 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2000
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hamada, Noboru, Muto, Shin
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): GYORFI, THOMAS A
• Application Number:
  US09/576,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20030120754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,085 Days
• Field of Search: 707/5, 707/100, 707/3, 385/1.13, 385/1.14, 385/1.15, 710 15- 19, 358/1.13, 358/1.14, 358/1.15
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for searching a device on a network. The device searching server acquires a search condition from the device searching client, searches a device on the network and returns the search result to the device searching client. If the number of the device matching the search condition is at least equal to a predetermined number, additional information such as location information and charge information is added to the search result. Also if the device matching the search condition is absent, a device of a high frequency of use, determined on the use history, is outputted as the search result.

Claims

1. A device searching apparatus that searches for at least one device on a network, comprising:

obtaining means for obtaining a plurality of search conditions, each related to a device function, in order to search for a desired device on the network;

search means for searching for at least one device that satisfies the plurality of search conditions obtained by said obtaining means;

search control means for controlling said search means to execute searches under the plurality of search conditions obtained by said obtaining means, in response to input of a search request;

recognition means for recognizing whether a number of devices, identified by said search means, that satisfy the plurality of search conditions is smaller than a predetermined number; and

output means for outputting a search result based on the searches by said search means,

wherein if said recognition means recognizes that the number of devices that satisfy the plurality of search conditions is smaller than the predetermined number, said search control means controls said search means to add information on one or more previously used devices to the search result.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said search means performs a first search and a second search based on an obtained value representing a plurality of functions, and

said output means distinguishably displays a search result of the first search and a search result of the second search on a display unit.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

control means for controlling said output means to output the search result such that the search result includes identification information and attribute information of a device that satisfies at least one of the first search condition and the second search condition; and

communication means for acquiring device information, registered corresponding to identification information in another apparatus on the network, from the other apparatus,

wherein said control means controls said communication means to acquire additional information on each device identified in the search result, and causes the additional information to be added to the search result.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said control means is adapted to acquire, from an apparatus that manages location information of devices on the network, location information of each device identified in the search result, and to add the location information to the search result.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said control means is adapted to acquire, from an apparatus that manages charge information of devices on the network, charge information of each device identified in the search result, and to add the charge information to the search result.

6. A device searching apparatus that searches for at least one device on a network, comprising:

management means for managing a database that includes identification information for identifying a device on the network and static information associated therewith;

input means for entering a first group of attributes and a second group of attributes, both related to a device function, for searching for at least one desired device on the network;

search means for searching for at least one device from the database having the first group of attributes entered by said input means and for searching for at least one device from the database having the second group of attributes entered by said input means;

output means for outputting a search result that includes identification information and static information about a device having at least one of the first and the second groups of attributes;

control means for adding dynamic information to the search result, according to a number of devices having at least one of the first and the second groups of attributes; and

discrimination means for discriminating a device with a high frequency of use, based on the dynamic information, which relates to a use history of devices on the network,

wherein, in a case in which a number of devices having the first or second group of attributes is zero, said control means adds to the search result information of the device with the high frequency of use discriminated using said discrimination means.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, in a case in which a number of devices identified in the search result is at least equal to a predetermined value, said control means acquires dynamic information from a device having at least one of the first and the second groups of attributes and adds the dynamic information to the search result.

8. A device according to claim 6, wherein

the first group of attributes used by said search means includes at least one of color, double side, and staple,

said output means outputs to a display unit, and

said search means searches for devices having the first group of attributes and the second group of attributes, respectively, in accordance with a search instruction inputted by a user, such that found devices are automatically displayed on the display unit as a list.

9. A device searching method for searching for at least one device on a network, comprising:

an obtaining step, of obtaining a plurality of search conditions, each related to a device function, in order to search for a desired device on the network;

a search step, of searching for at least one device from the database that satisfies the plurality of search conditions obtained in said obtaining step;

a search control step, of controlling said search step to execute searches under the plurality of search conditions obtained in said obtaining step, in response to input of a search request;

a recognition step, of recognizing whether a number of devices, identified in said search step, that satisfy the plurality of search conditions is smaller than a predetermined number; and

an output step, of outputting a search result based on the searches in said search step,

wherein if it is recognized in said recognition step that the number of devices that satisfy the plurality of search conditions is smaller than the predetermined number, then said search control step is performed to control execution of said search step to add information on one or more previously used devices to the search result.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein

said search step performs includes performing a first search and a second search based on an obtained value representing a plurality of functions, and

said output step includes distinguishably displaying a search result of the first search and a search result of the second search on a display unit.

11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

a control step, of controlling said output step to output the search result such that the search result includes identification information and attribute information of a device that satisfies at least one of the first search condition and the second search condition; and

a reception step, of receiving device information, registered corresponding to identification information in another apparatus on the network, from the other apparatus,

wherein said control step includes controlling said reception step to acquire additional information on each device identified in the search result, and causing the additional information to be added to the search result.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said control step includes acquiring, from an apparatus that manages location information of devices on the network, location information of each device identified in the search result, and adding the location information to the search result.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein said control step includes acquiring, from an apparatus that manages charge information of devices on the network, charge information of each device identified in the search result, and adding the charge information to the search result.

14. A device searching method for searching for at least one device on a network, comprising:

a management step, of managing a database that includes identification information for identifying a device on the network and static information associated therewith;

an input step, of entering a first group of attributes and a second group of attributes, both related to a device function, for searching for at least one desired device on the network;

a search step, of searching for at least one device from the database having the first group of attributes entered in said input step and of searching for at least one device from the database having the second group of attributes entered in said input step;

an output step, of outputting a search result that includes identification information and static information about a device having at least one of the first and the second groups of attributes;

a control step, of adding dynamic information to the search result, according to a number of devices having at least one of the first and the second groups of attributes; and

a discrimination step, of discriminating a device with a high frequency of use, based on the dynamic information, which relates to a use history of devices on the network,

wherein, in a case in which a number of devices having the first or second group of attributes is zero, said control step includes adding to the search result information of the device with the high frequency of use discriminated in said discrimination step.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein, in a case in which a number of devices identified in the search result is at least equal to a predetermined value, said control step includes acquiring dynamic information from a device having at least one of the first and the second groups of attributes and adding the dynamic information to the search result.

16. A memory medium storing a computer program to be executed by a computer to implement a device searching method for searching for at least one device on a network, the method comprising:

an obtaining step, for obtaining a plurality of search conditions, each related to a device function, in order to search for a desired device on the network;

a search step, of searching for at least one device from the database that satisfies the plurality of search conditions obtained in said obtaining step;

a search control step, of controlling said search step to execute searches under the plurality of search conditions obtained in said obtaining step, in response to input of a search request;

a recognition step, of recognizing whether a number of devices, identified in said search step, that satisfy the plurality of search conditions is smaller than a predetermined number; and

an output step, of outputting a search result based on the searches in said search step,

wherein if it is recognized in said recognition step that the number of devices that satisfy the plurality of search conditions is smaller than the predetermined number, then said search control step is performed to control execution of said search step to add information on one or more previously used devices to the search result.

17. A memory medium according to claim 16, wherein

said search step includes performing a first search and a second search based on an inputted value representing a plurality of functions, and

said output step includes distinguishably displaying a search result of the first search and a search result of the second search on a display unit.

18. A memory medium according to claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

a control step of controlling performance of said output step to output the search result such that the search result includes identification information and attribute information of a device that satisfies at least one of the first search condition and the second search condition; and

a reception step, of receiving device information, registered corresponding to identification information in another apparatus on the network, from the other apparatus,

wherein said control step includes controlling performance of said reception step to acquire additional information on each device identified in the search result, and causing the additional information to be added to the search result.

19. A memory medium according to claim 18, wherein said control step includes acquiring, from an apparatus that manages location information of devices on the network, location information of each device identified in the search result, and adding the location information to the search result.

20. A memory medium according to claim 18, wherein said control step includes acquiring, from an apparatus that manages charge information of devices on the network, charge information of each device identified in the search result, and adding the charge information to the search result.

21. A memory medium storing a computer program to be executed by a computer to implement a device searching method for searching for at least one device on a network, the method comprising:

a management step, of managing a database that includes identification information for identifying a device on the network and static information associated therewith;

an input step, of entering a first group of attributes and a second group of attributes, both related to a device function, for searching for at least one desired device on the network;

a search step, of searching for at least one device from the database having the first group of attributes entered in said input step and of searching for at least one device from the database having the second group of attributes entered in said input step;

an output step, of outputting a search result that includes identification information and static information of a device having at least one of the first and the second groups of attributes;

a control step, of adding dynamic information to the search result, according to a number of devices having at least one of the first and the second groups of attributes; and

a discrimination step, of discriminating a device with a high frequency of use, based on the dynamic information, which relates to a use history of devices on the network,

wherein, in a case in which a number of devices having the first or second group of attributes is zero, said control step adds to the search result information of the device with the high frequency of use discriminated in said discrimination step.

22. A memory medium according to claim 21, wherein, in a case in which a number of devices identified in the search result is at least equal to a predetermined value, said control step includes acquiring dynamic information from a device having at least one of the first and the second groups of attributes and adding the dynamic information to the search result.

23. A device searching system that searches for at least one device on a network, comprising:

an obtaining unit for obtaining a first search condition and a second search condition, both related to a device function, in order to search for a desired device on the network;

a search computer for searching for at least one device that satisfies the first search condition obtained by said obtaining unit and for searching for at least one device that satisfies the second search condition entered obtained by said obtaining unit; and

a search controller for controlling said search computer to execute searches in response to input of a search request;

a recognition unit for recognizing whether a number of devices, identified by said search computer, that satisfy the first and second search conditions is smaller than a predetermined number; and

an output unit for outputting a search result based on the searches performed by said search computer,

wherein if said recognition unit recognizes that the number of devices that satisfy the first and second search conditions is smaller than the predetermined number, said search controller controls said search computer to add information on one or more previously used devices to the search result.

24. A device searching system that searches for at least one device on a network, comprising:

a management computer for managing a database that includes identification information for identifying a device on the network and static information associated therewith;

an input unit for entering a first group of attributes and a second group of attributes, both related to a device function, for searching for at least one desired device on the network;

a search computer for searching for at least one device from the database having the first group of attributes entered by said input unit and for searching for at least one device from the database that satisfies the second group of attributes entered by said input unit;

an output unit for outputting a search result that includes identification information and static information of a device having at least one of the first and the second groups of attributes;

a control computer for adding dynamic information to the first and the second groups of attributes, according to a number of devices having at least one of the first and the second groups of attributes; and

a discrimination computer for discriminating a device with a high frequency of use, based on the dynamic information, which relates to a use history of devices on the network,

wherein, in a case in which a number of devices having the first or second group of attributes is zero, said control computer adds to the search result information of the device with the high frequency of use discriminated using said discrimination computer.