Operation target identification system

• US 8,332,054 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Kawai, Sunao
• Primary Examiner(s): Kasenge, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Sunray
• Application Number:
  US12/688,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20100122181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 700/17
• 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 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0049 providing a visual indication to the user, e.g. using a lamp H04N1/00408 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32523 a plurality of output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

An operation target identification system includes at least one terminal device connected to a network, having a first display, devices connected to the network, each of which has a second display, and an identical pattern setting unit provided on the network, which selects one of multiple preset display patterns and sets the selected display pattern to the first display of the terminal device and the second display of one of the devices designated as an operation target of the terminal device.

Claims

1. An operation target identification system comprising:

at least one terminal device connected to a network, the at least one terminal device having a first display;

a plurality of devices connected to the network, each of the plurality of devices having a second display; and

a server connected to the network at a point separate from the at least one terminal device;

wherein the at least one terminal device has a first controller configured to;

when a device is designated as an operation target and a display pattern is selected from a plurality of display patterns, send an update request over the network for updating an operation screen corresponding to the selected display pattern to the server; and

when receiving display data from the server, update the operation screen according to the display data,

wherein the server has a second controller configured to;

receive, from each of the plurality of devices, information indicating a display pattern shown on its second display;

generate data for enabling the at least one terminal device to display a list of the plurality of devices and transmit the generated data to the at least one terminal device;

when receiving the update request, judge whether the selected display pattern of the designated device corresponds to one of the display patterns shown on the plurality of devices other than the designated device based on the information received from each of the plurality of devices;

if it is judged that the selected display pattern of the designated device corresponds to one of the display patterns of the devices other than the designated device, send, to the at least one terminal, a screen indicating that the selected display pattern of the designated device corresponds to one of the display patterns of the devices other than the designated device, the screen further providing an option to reselect one of the display patterns;

if it is judged that the selected display pattern of the designated device does not correspond to one of the display patterns of the devices other than the designated device, send designation data for updating the selected display pattern to the device designated as the operation target;

generate the display data for displaying the operation screen in accordance with the update request; and

send the generated display data for updating the operation screen to the selected display pattern to the at least one terminal device over the network,

wherein the device corresponding to the operation target has a third controller configured to;

when receiving the designation data from the server, update the display pattern on the second display of the operation target to the selected display pattern.

2. The operation target identification system according to claim 1, wherein the display pattern includes at least one of a display color and a display style.

3. The operation target identification system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one terminal device includes a web browser for accessing HTML files.

4. The operation target identification system according to claim 1, wherein the display data received by the at least one terminal device comprises web page data for displaying a web page and the web page is displayed on the first display.

5. The operation target identification system according to claim 4, wherein the web page presents the plurality of devices as a list, and the first controller is further configured to accept a selection from the list and to designate the operation target based on the selection.

6. The operation target identification system according to claim 4, wherein the web page contains at least one first button for designating one of the plurality of devices and at least one second button for selecting a display style.

7. The operation target identification system according to claim 1, wherein the second controller of the server is further configured to:

send the designation data to the device designated as the operation target using a first protocol; and

send the generated display data to the at least one terminal device using a second protocol.

8. The operation target identification system according to claim 7, wherein the first protocol is the Simple Network Management Protocol and the second protocol is the Hypertext Transfer Protocol.

9. A terminal device connected to a network for operating a plurality of devices connected to the network, comprising:

a display; and

a controller configured to;

when a device is designated as an operation target and a display pattern is selected from a plurality of display patterns, send an update request over the network for updating an operation screen corresponding to the selected display pattern to a server; and

when receiving display data from the server, update the operation screen according to the display data,

wherein the server is connected to the network at a point separate from the terminal device, and

wherein the server has a second controller configured to;

receive, from each of the plurality of devices, information indicating a display pattern shown on its second display;

generate data for enabling the at least one terminal device to display a list of the plurality of devices and transmit the generated data to the at least one terminal device;

when receiving the update request, judge whether the selected display pattern of the designated device corresponds to one of the display patterns shown on the plurality of devices other than the designated device based on the information received from each of the plurality of devices;

if it is judged that the selected display pattern of the designated device corresponds to one of the display patterns of the devices other than the designated device, send, to the at least one terminal, a screen indicating that the selected display pattern of the designated device corresponds to one of the display patterns of the devices other than the designated device, the screen further providing an option to reselect one of the display patterns;

if it is judged that the selected display pattern of the designated device does not correspond to one of the display patterns of the devices other than the designated device, send designation data for updating the selected display pattern to the device designated as the operation target;

generate the display data for displaying the operation screen in accordance with the update request; and

send the generated display data for updating the operation screen to the selected display pattern to the terminal device over the network, and

wherein the device corresponding to the operation target has a third controller configured to;

when receiving the designation data from the server, update the display pattern on a second display of the operation target to the selected display pattern.

10. The terminal device according to claim 9, wherein the display pattern includes at least one of a display color and a display style.

11. The terminal device of claim 9, wherein the terminal device comprises a web browser, wherein the display data received by the terminal device comprises web page data for displaying a web page on the display,

wherein the web page includes first buttons for designating the operation target and second buttons for selecting a display style, and

wherein the web browser transmits, to the server, information specifying the selected display style.

12. A server connected to a network including a plurality of devices and a terminal device operating the devices, comprising:

a controller configured to;

receive, from each of the plurality of devices, information indicating a display pattern shown on its second display;

generate data for enabling the terminal device to display a list of the plurality of devices and transmit the generated data to the terminal device;

when receiving an update request, judge whether a selected display pattern of a designated device corresponds to one of the display patterns shown on the plurality of devices other than the designated device based on the information received from each of the plurality of devices;

if it is judged that the selected display pattern of the designated device corresponds to one of the display patterns of the devices other than the designated device, send, to the terminal, a screen indicating that the selected display pattern of the designated device corresponds to one of the display patterns of the devices other than the designated device, the screen further providing an option to reselect one of the display patterns;

if it is judged that the selected display pattern of the designated device does not correspond to one of the display patterns of the devices other than the designated device, send designation data for updating the selected display pattern to the designated device designated as an operation target;

generate display data for displaying an operation screen in accordance with the update request; and

send the generated display data for updating the operation screen to the selected display pattern to the terminal device over the network,

wherein the terminal device is connected at a point on the network separate from the server and has a second controller configured to;

when a device is designated as an operation target and a display pattern is selected from display patterns, send an update request over the network for updating an operation screen corresponding to the selected display pattern to the server; and

when receiving display data from the server, update the operation screen according to the display data, and

wherein the device corresponding to the operation target has a third controller configured to;

when receiving the designation data from the server, update the display pattern on a second display of the operation target to the selected display pattern.

13. The server according to claim 12, wherein the display format includes at least one of a display color and a display style.

14. The server of claim 12, wherein the server receives, from the terminal device, information specifying a designated display style,

wherein the controller is further configured to transmit, to one of the plurality of devices, information for instructing the device to display a screen according to the designated display style.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause a terminal device, connected to a network for operating a plurality of devices connected to the network, to:

when a device is designated as an operation target and a display pattern is selected from display patterns, send an update request for updating an operation screen corresponding to the selected display pattern to a server over the network; and

when receiving display data from the server, update the operation screen according to the display data,

wherein the server is connected to the network at a point separate from the terminal device, and

wherein the server has a second controller configured to;

receive, from each of the plurality of devices, information indicating a display pattern shown on its second display;

generate data for enabling the terminal device to display a list of the plurality of devices and transmit the generated data to the terminal device;

when receiving the update request, judge whether the selected display pattern of the designated device corresponds to one of the display patterns shown on the plurality of devices other than the designated device based on the information received from each of the plurality of devices;

if it is judged that the selected display pattern of the designated device corresponds to one of the display patterns of the devices other than the designated device, send, to the terminal, a screen indicating that the selected display pattern of the designated device corresponds to one of the display patterns of the devices other than the designated device, the screen further providing an option to reselect one of the display patterns;

if it is judged that the selected display pattern of the designated device does not correspond to one of the display patterns of the devices other than the designated device, send designation data for updating the selected display pattern to the device designated as the operation target;

generate the display data for displaying the operation screen in accordance with the update request; and

send the generated display data for updating the operation screen to the selected display pattern to the terminal device over the network, and

wherein the device corresponding to the operation target has a third controller configured to;

when receiving the designation data from the server, update the display pattern on a second display of the operation target to the selected display pattern.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the display format includes at least one of a display color and a display style.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, the computer readable medium having additional instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the terminal device to run a web browser,

wherein the display data received by the terminal device comprises web page data for displaying a web page on the display,

wherein the web page includes first buttons for designating the operation target and second buttons for selecting a display style, and

wherein the web browser transmits, to the server, information specifying the selected display style.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon that when executed by a processor cause a server, connected to a network including a plurality of devices and terminal device operating the devices, to:

receive, from each of the plurality of devices, information indicating a display pattern shown on its second display;

generate data for enabling the terminal device to display a list of the plurality of devices and transmit the generated data to the terminal device;

when receiving the update request, judge whether a selected display pattern of a designated device corresponds to one of the display patterns shown on the plurality of devices other than the designated device based on the information received from each of the plurality of devices;

if it is judged that the selected display pattern of the designated device corresponds to one of the display patterns of the devices other than the designated device, send, to the terminal, a screen indicating that the selected display pattern of the designated device corresponds to one of the display patterns of the devices other than the designated device, the screen further providing an option to reselect one of the display patterns;

if it is judged that the selected display pattern of the designated device does not correspond to one of the display patterns of the devices other than the designated device, send designation data for updating a selected display pattern to the designated device designated as an operation target;

generate display data for displaying an operation screen in accordance with the update request; and

send the generated display data for updating the operation screen to the selected display pattern to the terminal device over the network,

wherein the terminal device is connected at a point on the network separate from the server and has a second controller configured to;

when a device is designated as an operation target and a display pattern is selected from display patterns, send an update request over the network for updating an operation screen corresponding to the selected display pattern to the server; and

when receiving display data from the server, update the operation screen according to the display data, and

wherein the device corresponding to the operation target has a third controller configured to;

when receiving the designation data from the server, update the display pattern on a second display of the operation target to the selected display pattern.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 18, wherein the display pattern includes at least one of a display color and a display style.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, the computer readable medium having additional instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the server to:

receive, from the terminal device, information specifying a designated display style; and

transmit, to one of the plurality of devices, information for instructing the device to display a screen according to the designated display style.