Information equipment system

• US 7,206,830 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2001
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaroenchonwanit; Bunjob
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chankong; Dohm
• Application Number:
  US09/768,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20010013053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,273 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1253 Configuration of print job parameters, e.g. using UI at the client
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/126 Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server

Abstract

A system where pieces of information equipment are connected via a network, including a memory unit and a compensating device. The memory unit stores position information that represents a physical position of each piece of information equipment. The compensating device compensates a physical distance from one piece of information equipment to another piece of information equipment based on the position information, according to a frequency of information exchange between the former and the latter.

Claims

1. A computer connected with a plurality of printers via a network, comprising:

a memory unit for storing physical distance information indicating a physical distance from the computer to each printer; and

a compensating means for obtaining logical distance information indicating a logical distance from the computer to each printer by compensating the physical distance information according to usage of each printer, wherein the logical distance of each printer decreases as the usage frequency increases.

2. A computer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a display means for displaying a print setup screen in a display format based on an order of priority according to logical distance.

3. A computer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a setup means for automatically setting up a closest printer among the logical distance when outputting a printing job from the computer.

15. A computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compensating means revising the logical distance each time the printing job is received from the computer.

4. An information equipment system comprising:

a plurality of printers and computers connected to a network;

a setup means for selling up an order of priority based on a logical distance as a function of physical distance between each printer and each computer and usage frequency between each printer and each computer; and

a display means for displaying a printer selection screen in a display format based on the order of priority set up when selecting a printer, wherein

the logical distance assigned to each combination of printer and computer decreases as the usage frequency increases therebetween.

16. An information equipment system according to claim 4, wherein said setup means revising the order of priority of each time a printing job is received by one of the printers.

5. An information equipment system comprising:

a plurality of printers and computers connected to a network;

a setup means for setting up an order of priority based on a logical distance as a function of physical distance between each printer and each computer and usage frequency between each printer and each computer; and

a selection unit for automatically selecting a printer based on the order of priority set up, wherein

the logical distance assigned to each combination of printer and computer decreases as the usage frequency increases therebetween.

17. An information equipment system according to claim 5, wherein said setup means revising the order of priority of each time a printing job is received by one of the printers.

6. A method of allowing a computer to control a printer to output a printing job in a system where a plurality of printers and computers are connected via a network, comprising the steps of:

obtaining physical distance information indicating a physical distance from each computer to each printer;

obtaining logical distance information indicating a logical distance from the computer to each printer by compensating the obtained physical distance information according to usage frequency of each printer, wherein the logical distance of each printer decreases as the usage frequency increases; and

setting up an order of priority for the printers based on the logical distance.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a step of displaying a printer selection screen according to the order of priority set up.

18. A method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of compensating the obtained physical distance information each time the printing job is received from one of the computers and revising the order of priority for the printers each time the printing job is received.

8. A method of allowing a computer to control a printer to output a printing job in a system where a plurality of printers and computers are connected via a network, comprising the steps of:

obtaining physical distance information from each computer to each printer;

obtaining a logical distance by compensating the obtained physical distance information according to a number of times each printer received a printing job from each computer; and

selecting a printer to be used for outputting a printing job from a plurality of printers based on the logical distance, wherein

the logical distance assigned to each combination of printer and computer decreases as the usage frequency increases therebetween.

19. A method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of compensating the obtained physical distance information each time the printing job is received from each computer.

9. An information equipment system where a plurality of pieces of information equipment are connected via a network, comprising:

a memory unit for storing position information that represents a physical position of each piece of information equipment; and

a compensating means for obtaining a logical distance by compensating a physical distance from one piece of information equipment to another piece of information equipment based on the position information, according to a frequency of information exchange between the former and the latter wherein, the logical distance decreases as the frequency of information exchange therebetween increases.

10. An information equipment system as claimed in claim 9, in which said information equipment includes a printing job transmission device for transmitting a printing job and a printing device for executing the printing job, said memory unit and said compensating means are provided in said printing job transmission device, and the transmitted printing job is executed by said printing device that is ready to print and closest to said printing job transmission device based on the logical distance.

11. An information equipment system as claimed in claim 9, in which said information equipment includes a printing job transmission device for transmitting a printing job and a printing device for executing the printing job, and if a printing device, which is ready to print and closest to a printing job transmission device that transmitted a printing job based on the logical distance, is more distant than a specified threshold value from said printing job transmission device, a message stating said printing device is too far is issued to said printing job transmission device.

12. An information equipment system as claimed in claim 9, in which said information equipment includes a printing job transmission device for transmitting a printing job and a printing device for executing the printing job, said memory unit and said compensating means are provided in said printing job transmission device, and said information equipment system further comprises an instruction unit with which a user can selects a printing device.

13. An information equipment system as claimed in claim 9, in which said information equipment includes a printing job transmission device for transmitting a printing job and a printing device for executing the printing job, said memory unit and said compensating means are provided in said printing device, and if an error occurs in said printing device that causes troubles in printing operation, said error information shall be issued to a printing job transmission device that is ready to receive information and is closest to said printing device based on the logical distance.

20. An information equipment system according to claim 9, wherein said compensating means compensating the physical distance each time information is exchanged.

14. A computer readable recording medium in which a program for controlling a plurality of pieces of information equipment connected via a network is stored, said program causing the computer to executing the processes of:

storing position information that represents a physical position of each piece of information equipment; and

obtaining a logical distance by compensating a physical distance from one piece of information equipment to another piece of information equipment based on the position information, according to a frequency of information exchange between the former and the latter wherein, the logical distance decreases as the frequency of information exchange therebetween increases.

21. An information equipment system according to claim 14, wherein said compensating means compensating the physical distance each time information is exchanged.