Configuration setting system for network system

• US 7,392,299 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2003
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Maekawa, Yohei
• Primary Examiner(s): WON, MICHAEL YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/626,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20050005003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 709/220, 709/221, 709/222, 709/230, 709/209, 709/224, 710/8, 710/10, 710/104, 711/1, 711/170
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1286 via local network
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration

Abstract

A configuration setting system is provided for a network system including a plurality of electronic devices communicably connected to a network. The configuration setting system sets a configuration of an electronic device based on a configuration of a predetermined electronic device functioning as a model device. The predetermined electronic device is provided with a checking system that checks whether there is a currently operating model device on the network when the predetermined electronic device is to function as the model device, and a determining system that determines, when the checking system detects no model device on the network, that the predetermined electronic device should operate as the model device for the network system.

Claims

1. A configuration setting system for a network system including a plurality of electronic devices communicably connected to a network, said configuration setting system setting a configuration of an electronic device based on a configuration of another electronic device that functions as a model device,

said plurality of electronic devices including a candidate electronic device to operate as the model device, said candidate electronic device being provided with:

a checking system that checks whether there is a currently operating model device on said network when said candidate electronic device is to function as the model device;

a determining system that determines, when said checking system detects the model device, only one of said candidate electronic device and the currently operating model device as a new model device; and

a configuration sending system that sends configuration information of the candidate electronic device to said plurality of electronic devices when the candidate electronic device is determined as the new model device by the determining system;

wherein said currently operating model device is configured such that whether a a function of the model device is to be maintained is set, and

wherein said determining system determines that the currently operating model device as the model device when said currently operating model device is configured such that the function of the model device is to be maintained.

2. The configuration setting system according to claim 1,

wherein said determining system including an input device that allows a user to select one of said candidate electronic device and the currently operating model device as the new model device.

3. The configuration setting system according to claim 1,

wherein said candidate electronic device is provided with a notification system that notifies other electronic devices that said candidate electronic device operates as the model device when said determining system determines said candidate electronic device as the new model device.

13. The configuration setting system according to claim 1, wherein the configuration includes operational parameters for each electronic device, each electronic device operates in accordance with the operational parameters.

4. An electronic device capable of operating as a model device for a configuration setting system for a network system having a plurality of electronic devices communicably connected to a network, a configuration of the plurality of electronic devices being set based on a configuration of the model device,

said electronic device capable of operating as the model device being provided with:

a checking system that checks whether there is a currently operating model device on the network when said electronic device is to function as the model device;

a determining system that determines, when said checking system detects the currently operating model device on the network, one of said electronic device and the currently operating model device as a new model device; and

a configuration sending system that sends configuration information of the electronic device to said plurality of electronic devices when the electronic device is determined as the new model device by the determining system;

wherein said currently operating model device is configured such that whether a function of the model device is to be maintained is set, and

wherein said determining system determines that the currently operating model device as the model device when said currently operating model device is configured such that the function of the model device is to be maintained.

5. A computer accessible storage which stores a program which is executed by a computer so that the computer function as an electronic device capable of operating as a model device for a configuration setting system for a network system having a plurality of electronic devices communicably connected to a network, a configuration of the plurality of electronic devices being set based on a configuration of the model device,

said electronic device capable of operating as the model device being provided with:

a checking system that checks whether there is a currently operating model device on the network when said electronic device is to function as the model device;

a determining system that determines, when said checking system detects the currently operating model device on the network, one of said electronic device and the currently operating model device as a new model device; and

a configuration sending system that sends configuration information of the electronic device to said plurality of electronic devices when the electronic device is determined as the new model device by the determining system;

wherein said currently operating model device is configured such that whether a function of the model device is to be maintained is set, and

wherein said determining system determines that the currently operating model device as the model device when said currently operating model device is configured such that the function of the model device is to be maintained.

6. A configuration setting system for a network system including a plurality of electronic devices communicably connected to a network, said configuration setting system setting a configuration of an electronic device based on a configuration of a predetermined electronic device functioning as a model device,

said predetermined electronic device being provided with:

a checking system that checks whether there is a currently operating model device on said network when said predetermined electronic device is to function as the model device;

a determining system that determines, when said checking system detects no model device, said predetermined electronic device as the model device for said network system; and

a configuration sending system that sends configuration information of the predetermined electronic device to said plurality of electronic devices when the predetermined electronic device is determined as a new model device by the determining system;

wherein, when said currently operating model device is on said network, said operating model device is configured such that whether a function of the model device is to be maintained is set, and

wherein said determining system determines that the currently operating model device is kept operating as said model device when said currently operating model device is configured such that the function of the model device is to be maintained.

7. The configuration setting system according to claim 6,

wherein, said determining system includes an input system that allows a user to select one of the currently operating model device and said predetermined electronic device as said model device,

wherein when said currently operating model device is on said network and the function as said model device is releasable, said determining system determining selected one of said currently operating model device and said predetermined electronic device as said model device and the other as a non-model device.

8. The configuration setting system according to claim 7,

further including a setting system that sets the configuration of said currently operating model device to function as the non-model device, and sets the configuration of said predetermined electronic device to function as said model device when said predetermined electronic device is determined to be said model device.

9. The configuration setting system according to claim 7,

further including a setting system that sets the configuration of said predetermined electronic device to function as said non-model device when said currently operating electronic device is determined to be said model device.

10. The configuration setting system according to claim 9, wherein said setting system obtains the configuration of said currently operating model device and updates the configuration of said predetermined electronic device in accordance with the configuration of said currently operating model device.

11. The configuration setting system according to claim 6, further including a setting system,

wherein said determining system includes an input system that allows a user to select one of the currently operating model device and said predetermined electronic device as said model device, and

wherein, when said currently operating model device is on said network and the function as said model device is not releasable, said setting system sets the configuration of said predetermined electronic device so as to operate as the non-model device.

12. The configuration setting system according to claim 11, wherein said setting system obtains the configuration of said currently operating model device and updates the configuration of said predetermined electronic device in accordance with the configuration of said currently operating model device.