Method of managing download in network system

• US 7,389,329 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2001
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kurumida, Tsuneaki, Naito, Yoshiko, Sakai, Tetsuo, Ikeno, Hideo, Horiyama, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Cardone; Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duong; Thomas
• Application Number:
  US09/793,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20010054088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,667 Days
• Field of Search: 709201-203, 709213-216, 709217-219, 709220-246, 709/207, 395/200, 700/19
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The invention manages the download of print resource data, which is used during print processing, to a plurality of printing apparatuses in a network system in which the plurality of printing apparatuses and a server are connected. An identifier for g the print resource data to be downloaded is input, and downloadable printing apparatuses are determined in accordance with a type of a storage device attached to each of the plurality of printing apparatuses. The print resource data corresponding to the input identifier is downloaded to the determined printing apparatuses. When the data processing apparatus holds the print resource data corresponding to the identifier, the held print resource data is downloaded, and when the data processing apparatus does not hold the print resource data corresponding to the identifier, the print resource data is acquired from the server and downloaded. A server flag set to the downloaded print resource data is read, and it is determined that the downloaded print resource data should be transferred to the server when the server flag indicates that the downloaded print resource data should be transferred to said server, and it is determined determining that the downloaded print resource data should not be transferred to said server when the server flag indicates that the downloaded print resource data should not be transferred to said server.

Claims

1. A network system comprising a plurality of printing apparatuses, at least one data processing apparatus for downloading print resource data which is used during print processing to said printing apparatuses, and a server, wherein

said server holds the print resource data downloaded by said data processing apparatus and information concerning the download, and

said data processing apparatus comprises:

input means for inputting an identifier for identifying the print resource data to be downloaded;

first determination means for determining downloadable printing apparatuses from among said plurality of printing apparatuses in accordance with a type of a storage device attached to each of the plurality of printing apparatuses; and

download means for downloading the print resource data corresponding to the input identifier to said printing apparatuses determined by said first determination means,

wherein, when said data processing apparatus holds the print resource data corresponding to the input identifier, said download means downloads the print resource data held by said data processing apparatus to said printing apparatuses determined by said first determination means,

when said data processing apparatus does not hold the print resource data corresponding to the input identifier, said download means acquires the print resource data from said server and downloads the acquired print resource data to said printing apparatuses determined by said first determination means, and

said data processing apparatus further comprises;

reading means for reading a server flag set to the downloaded print resource data;

second determination means for determining that the downloaded print resource data should be transferred to said server when the server flag indicates that the downloaded print resource data should be transferred to said server, and determining that the downloaded print resource data should not be transferred to said server when the server flag indicates that the downloaded print resource data should not be transferred to said server, and

transferring means for transferring the downloaded print resource data to said server when said second determination means determines that the print resource data should be transferred to said server.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said network system comprises a plurality of servers, and only a specific one of said servers holds the print resource data and the information concerning the download.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the print resource data contains at least one of data pertaining to software for controlling said printing apparatuses, data pertaining to a resource of the software, and data for changing settings of said printing apparatus.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the information concerning the download contains at least one of information for specifying said printing apparatus to which the print resource data is downloaded, the type of the print resource data, the size of the print resource data, and an operator who has performed the download operation.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein said data processing apparatus directly transfers the print resource data and the information concerning the download to said specific server.

6. The system according to claim 2, wherein said data processing apparatus transfers the print resource data and the information concerning the download to said specific server via another one of said servers.

7. The system according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said servers comprises means for displaying the information concerning the download.

8. The system according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said servers comprises means for displaying setting information concerning settings of each of said printing apparatuses.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said printing apparatuses include at least one of a printer, a scanner, a copying machine, a facsimile apparatus, and a composite apparatus having some functions thereof.

10. A data processing apparatus for downloading print resource data, which is used during print processing, to a plurality of printing apparatuses, via a network system having said plurality of printing apparatuses and a server, comprising:

input means for inputting an identifier for identifying the print resource data to be downloaded;

first determination means for determining downloadable printing apparatuses from among said plurality of printing apparatuses in accordance with a type of a storage device attached to each of the plurality of printing apparatuses; and

download means for downloading the print resource data corresponding to the input identifier to said printing apparatuses determined by said first determination means,

wherein, when said data processing apparatus holds the print resource data corresponding to the input identifier, said download means downloads the print resource data held by said data processing apparatus to said printing apparatuses determined by said first determination means,

when said data processing apparatus does not hold the print resource data corresponding to the input identifier, said download means acquires the print resource data from said server and downloads the acquired print resource data to said printing apparatuses determined by said first determination means, and

said data processing apparatus further comprises;

reading means for reading a server flag set to the downloaded print resource data;

second determination means for determining that the downloaded print resource data should be transferred to said server when the server flag indicates that the downloaded print resource data should be transferred to said server, and determining that the downloaded print resource data should not be transferred to said server when the server flag indicates that the downloaded print resource data should not be transferred to said server, and

transferring means for transferring the downloaded print resource data to said server when said second determination means determines that the print resource data should be transferred to said server.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said transferring means transfers the downloaded print resource data and the information concerning the download to said server, and wherein

said network system comprises a plurality of servers, and

said transferring means transfers the downloaded print resource data and the information concerning the download to a specific one of said servers.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said transferring means transfers the downloaded print resource data and the information concerning the download to said specific server via another one of said servers.

13. A network system management method of managing download of print resource data, which is used during print processing, to a plurality of printing apparatuses in a network system in which said plurality of printing apparatuses and a server are connected, said method comprising the steps of:

inputting, to a data processing apparatus, an identifier for identifying the print resource data to be downloaded;

a first determination step of determining downloadable printing apparatuses from among said plurality of printing apparatuses in accordance with a type of a storage device attached to each of the plurality of printing apparatuses; and

downloading, by the data processing apparatus, the print resource data corresponding to the input identifier to said printing apparatuses determined by said first determination step,

wherein, when said data processing apparatus holds the print resource data corresponding to the input identifier, said downloading step downloads the print resource data held by said data processing apparatus to said printing apparatuses determined by said first determination step,

when said data processing apparatus does not hold the print resource data corresponding to the input identifier, said downloading step acquires the print resource data from said server and downloads the acquired print resource data to said printing apparatuses determined by said first determination step, and

said method further comprises;

reading a server flag set to the downloaded print resource data;

second determination step of determining that the downloaded print resource data should be transferred to said server when the server flag indicates that the downloaded print resource data should be transferred to said server, and determining that the downloaded print resource data should not be transferred to said server when the server flag indicates that the downloaded print resource data should not be transferred to said server, and

transferring the downloaded print resource data to said server when said second determination step determines that the print resource data should be transferred to said server.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said transferring step transfers the downloaded print resource data and information concerning the download to said server, wherein

said network system comprises a plurality of servers, and

said transferring step transfers the downloaded print resource data and the information concerning the download to a specific one of said servers.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said transferring step transfers the downloaded print resource data and the information concerning the download to said specific server via another one of said servers.

16. A computer-readable recording medium on which is stored a computer-readable program for managing download of print resource data, which is used during print processing, to a plurality of printing apparatuses in a network system having said printing apparatuses and a server, said program, when executed, causes a computer to perform the steps of:

an input step of inputting an identifier for identifying the print resource data to be downloaded;

a first determination step of determining downloadable printing apparatuses among said plurality of printing apparatuses in accordance with a type of a storage device attached to each of the plurality of printing apparatuses; and

a download step of downloading the print resource data corresponding to the input identifier to said printing apparatuses determined by said first determination step,

wherein, when said computer holds the print resource data corresponding to the input identifier, said download step downloads the print resource data held by said computer to said printing apparatuses determined by said first determination step,

when said computer does not hold the print resource data corresponding to the input identifier, said download step acquires the print resource data from said server and downloads the acquired print resource data to said printing apparatuses determined by said first determination step, and

said program causes said computer to perform;

a reading step of reading a server flag set to the downloaded print resource data;

second determination step of determining that the downloaded print resource data should be transferred to said server when the server flag indicates that the downloaded print resource data should be transferred to said server, and determining that the downloaded print resource data should not be transferred to said server when the server flag indicates that the downloaded print resource data should not be transferred to said server, and

a transferring step of transferring the downloaded print resource data to said server when said second determination step determines that the print resource data should be transferred to said server.

17. The medium according to claim 16, wherein said transferring step transfers the downloaded print resource data and information concerning the download to said server, and wherein

said network system comprises a plurality of servers, and

said transferring step transfers the downloaded print resource data and the information concerning the download to a specific one of said servers.

18. The medium according to claim 17, wherein said transferring step transfers the downloaded print resource data and the information concerning the download to said specific server via another one of said servers.