Control apparatus and its method, and control program and storage medium holding it, with access designating second address being performed based on link to the second address included in display information

• US 7,408,661 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2002
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ito, Yoshinori, Tokura, Yutaka, Hoshino, Hitoshi, Tokashiki, Kiyoshi, Takayanagi, Masahiro, Harano, Yuzo
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Douglas Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Park; Chan S
• Application Number:
  US10/267,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20030074420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,126 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 710/3, 710/4, 709/203, 709/219, 709/220, 709/238, 709/245, 709/244, 709/250
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1222 Increasing security of the print job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1238 Secure printing, e.g. user identification, user rights for device usage, unallowed content, blanking portions or fields of a page, releasing held jobs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

A controller which exists between a client apparatus and an image processing apparatus and which controls access from the client apparatus such that the client apparatus can use a network server function of the image processing apparatus, its control method and control program and storage medium. To accomplish this, the controller which exists between a client terminal and an image processing apparatus and which controls data transmitted from the client terminal to the image processing apparatus comprises an information providing unit which provides setup information of the controller to the client terminal and a transfer unit which transfers setup information of the image processing apparatus to the client terminal.

Claims

1. A control apparatus which controls data communication between a client apparatus and an image processing apparatus, said control apparatus comprising:

a first transfer unit adapted to transfer first display information to be displayed by a browser of said client apparatus to said client apparatus through a first network interface of said control apparatus in response to an access based on designation of a first address of said control apparatus from said client apparatus, wherein the first display information includes a link to a second address different from the first address; and

a second transfer unit adapted to receive, in response to an access based on designation of the second address from said client apparatus, second display information to be displayed by the browser from said image processing apparatus through a second network interface of said control apparatus different from the first network interface, and to transfer the received second display information to said client apparatus through the first network interface, wherein the access based on the designation of the second address is performed based on the link to the second address included in the first display information transferred by said first transfer unit,

wherein said control apparatus, said client apparatus, and said image processing apparatus are separate apparatuses.

2. The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit for selectively setting enabled/disabled status of said second transfer unit,

wherein if said second transfer unit is enabled, said first transfer unit transfers, to said client apparatus, the first display information including the link to the second address, and if said second transfer unit is not enabled, said first transfer unit transfers, to said client apparatus, display information, not including the link to the second address, to be displayed by the browser.

3. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the first address and the second address comprises (a) an IP address of said control apparatus and (b) a port number, or comprises (a) a DNS name of said control apparatus and (b) a port number.

4. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control apparatus communicates with each of said image processing apparatus and another image processing apparatus via a network,

wherein said first transfer unit transfers the first display information including the link to the second address corresponding to said image processing apparatus and a link to a third address corresponding to said another image processing apparatus, and

wherein said second transfer unit receives, in response to an access based on the designation of the third address from said client apparatus, third display information to be displayed by the browser from said another image processing apparatus and transfers the received third display information to said client apparatus, wherein the access based on the designation of the third address is performed based on the link to the third address included in the first display information transferred by said first transfer unit.

5. The control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, if one of said image processing apparatus and said another image processing apparatus cannot transfer the second display information or the third display information, said first transfer unit transfers the fourth display information including a notification of suspension of service at the one of said image processing apparatus and said another image processing apparatus.

6. A control apparatus which controls data communication between a client apparatus and an image processing apparatus, said control apparatus comprising:

a memory holding a program for (a) transferring first display information to be displayed by a browser of said client apparatus to said client apparatus through a first network interface of said control apparatus in response to an access based on designation of a first address of said control apparatus from said client apparatus, wherein the first display information includes a link to a second address different from the first address, (b) receiving, in response to an access designating the second address from said client apparatus, second display information to be displayed by the browser from said image processing apparatus through a second network interface of said control apparatus different from the first network interface, wherein the access based on the designation of the second address is performed based on the link to the second address, and (c) transferring the received second display information to said client apparatus through the first network interface; and

a processor that performs said program for (a) transferring the first display information including the link to the second address to said client apparatus in response to the access based on the designation of the first address from said client apparatus, (b) receiving, in response to the access based on the designation of the second address from said client apparatus, the second display information from said image processing apparatus, and (c) transferring the received second display information to said client apparatus,

wherein said control apparatus, said client apparatus, and said image processing apparatus are separate apparatuses.

7. A control method for a control apparatus which controls data communication between a client apparatus and an image processing apparatus, said control method comprising:

transferring first display information to be displayed by a browser of said client apparatus to said client apparatus through a first network interface of said control apparatus in response to an access of said control apparatus designating a first address from said client apparatus, wherein the first display information includes a link to a second address different from the first address;

receiving, in response to an access based on designation of the second address from said client apparatus, second display information to be displayed by the browser from said image processing apparatus through a second network interface of said control apparatus different from the first network interface, wherein the access designating the second address is performed based on the link to the second address; and

transferring the received second display information to said client apparatus through the first network interface,

wherein said control apparatus, said client apparatus, and said image processing apparatus are separate apparatuses.

8. A control program stored in a computer-readable storage medium for controlling data communication between a client apparatus and an image processing apparatus, for realizing by execution by a control apparatus, said control program comprising:

a transfer step of transferring first display information to be displayed by a browser of said client apparatus to said client apparatus through a first network interface of said control apparatus in response to an access based on designation of a first address of said control apparatus from said client apparatus, wherein the first display information includes a link to a second address different from the first address;

a transfer step of, in response to an access designating the second address from said client apparatus, receiving, in response to an access based on designation of the second address from said client apparatus, second display information to be displayed by the browser from said image processing apparatus through a second network interface of said control apparatus different from the first network interface and transferring the received second displayed information to said client apparatus through the first network interface, wherein the access based on the designation of the second address is performed based on the link to the second address,

wherein said control apparatus, said client apparatus, and said image processing apparatus are separate apparatuses.

9. A control apparatus which controls data communication between a client apparatus and an image processing apparatus, said control apparatus comprising:

a first transfer unit adapted to transfer first display information to be displayed by a browser of said client apparatus to said client apparatus through a first network interface of said control apparatus in response to an access to a first communication port of said control apparatus from said client apparatus, wherein the first display information includes a link to a second communication port different from the first communication port; and

a second transfer unit adapted to receive, in response to an access to the second communication port from said client apparatus, second display information to be displayed by the browser from said image processing apparatus through a second network interface of said control apparatus different from the first network interface, and transfer the received second display information to said client apparatus through the first network interface, wherein the access to the second communication port is performed based on the link to the second communication port included in the first display information transferred by said first transfer unit,

wherein said control apparatus, said client apparatus, and said image processing apparatus are separate apparatuses.

10. The control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first communication port is a communication port corresponding to a default port number in the browser.

11. The control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the link comprises (a) an IP address of said control apparatus and (b) a port number of the second communication port, or comprises (a) a DNS name of said control apparatus and (b) a port number of the second communication port.

12. The control apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a setting unit for selectively setting enabled/disabled status of said second transfer unit,

wherein, if said second transfer unit is enabled, said first transfer unit transfers, to said client apparatus, the first display information including the link to the second communication port, and if said second transfer unit is not enabled, said first transfer unit transfers, to said client apparatus, display information, not including the link to the second communication port, to be displayed by the browser.

13. The control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said control apparatus communicates with each of said image processing apparatus and another image processing apparatus via a network,

wherein said first transfer unit transfers the first display information including the link to the second communication port corresponding to said image processing apparatus and a link to a third communication port corresponding to said another image processing apparatus, and

wherein said second transfer unit receives, in response to an access to the third communication port from said client apparatus, third display information to be displayed by the browser from said another image processing apparatus and transfers the received third display information to said client apparatus, wherein the access to the third communication port is performed based on the link to the third communication port included in the first display information transferred by said first transfer unit.

14. The control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein, if one of said image processing apparatus and said another image processing apparatus cannot transfer the second display information or the third display information, said first transfer unit transfers fourth display information including a notification of suspension of service at the one of said image processing apparatus and said another image processing apparatus.

15. A control method for a control apparatus which controls data communication between a client apparatus and an image processing apparatus, said control method comprising the steps of:

transferring first display information to be displayed by a browser of said client apparatus to said client apparatus through a first network interface of said control apparatus in response to an access to a first communication port of said control apparatus from said client apparatus, wherein the first display information includes a link to a second communication port different from the first communication port;

receiving, in response to an access to the second communication port from said client apparatus, second display information to be displayed by the browser from said image processing apparatus through a second network interface of said control apparatus different from the first network interface, wherein the access to the second communication port is performed based on the link to the second communication port included in the first display information; and

transferring the received second display information to said client apparatus through the first network interface,

wherein said control apparatus, said client apparatus, and said image processing apparatus are separate apparatuses.

16. A control apparatus which controls data communication between a client apparatus and an image processing apparatus, said control apparatus comprising:

first transfer means for transferring first display information to be displayed by a browser of said client apparatus to said client apparatus through a first network interface of said control apparatus in response to an access based on designation of a first address of said control apparatus from said client apparatus, wherein the display information includes a link to a second address different from the first address; and

second transfer means for receiving, in response to an access based on designation of the second address from said client apparatus, second display information to be displayed by the browser from said image processing apparatus through a second network interface of said control apparatus different from the first network interface, and to transfer the received second display information to said client apparatus through the first network interface, wherein the access based on the designation of the second address is performed based on the link to the second address included in the first display information transferred by said first transfer means,

wherein said control apparatus, said client apparatus, and said image processing apparatus are separate apparatuses.

17. A control apparatus which controls data communication between a client apparatus and an image processing apparatus, said control apparatus comprising:

first transfer means for transferring first display information to be displayed by a browser of said client apparatus to said client apparatus through a first network interface of said control apparatus in response to an access to a first communication port of said control apparatus from said client apparatus, wherein the first display information includes a link to a second communication port different from the first communication port; and

second transfer means for receiving, in response to an access to the second communication port from said client apparatus, second display information to be displayed by the browser from said image processing apparatus through a second network interface of said control apparatus different from the first network interface, and transfer the received second display information to said client apparatus through the first network interface,

wherein the access to the second communication port is performed based on the link to the second communication port included in the first display information transferred by said first transfer means,

wherein said control apparatus, said client apparatus, and said image processing apparatus are separate apparatuses.