Communication system and communication device

• US 8,345,283 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2008
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Ohara, Kiyotaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, King
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREN, VINCENT ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US12/186,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20090040551A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 Days
• Field of Search: 709/19, 710/19
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1218 Reducing or saving of used resources, e.g. avoiding waste of consumables or improving usage of hardware resources
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1229 Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server

Abstract

A communication system may be provided with a first communication device and a second communication device. The first communication device may send the identification information stored in a first storage device to the second communication device. The first communication device may output status information included in combination information sent from the first communication device, and update the stored contents of the first storage device such that identification information included in the combination information is stored in the first storage device. The second communication device may obtain status information concerning a status of the second communication device, and update the stored contents of a second storage device such that the latest combination data including the latest status information and new identification information is stored in the second storage device. The second communication device may send the latest combination information to the first communication device in a case where the received identification information is not identical to the identification information included in the latest combination information, and prohibit the sending of combination information to the first communication device in a case where the received identification information is identical to the identification information included in the latest combination information.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a first communication device; and

a second communication device configured to be connected with the first communication device in a communicable manner,

wherein the first communication device comprises;

a first storage device configured to store identification information;

a first processor; and

first memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the first processor, cause the first communication device to;

send the identification information stored in the first storage device to the second communication device;

receive combination information sent from the second communication device;

output status information included in the received combination information; and

update stored contents of the first storage device such that identification information included in the received combination information is stored in the first storage device,

wherein the second communication device comprises;

a second storage device configured to store a plurality of items of combination information, each item of combination information including status information and identification information;

a second processor; and

second memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the second processor, cause the second communication device to;

obtain status information concerning each of a plurality of types of status of the second communication device;

update the stored contents of the second storage device such that the latest combination information, including the latest obtained status information and new identification information, is stored in the second storage device;

receive the identification information sent from the first communication device;

determine whether the received identification information is identical to the latest identification information included in the latest combination information stored in the second storage device;

send difference combination information to the first communication device in a case where the received identification information is not identical to the latest identification information, the difference combination information including the latest identification information and difference status information, the difference status information being a difference between status information concerning the plurality of types of status corresponding to the received identification information and status information concerning the plurality of types of status corresponding to the latest identification information; and

refrain from sending combination information to the first communication device in a case where the received identification information is identical to the latest identification information.

2. The communication system as in claim 1, wherein

in a case where any one of the plurality of types of status of the second communication device changes, the second communication device obtains status information following the change and updates the stored contents of the second storage device.

3. The communication system as in claim 2, wherein

the second storage device is configured to store all-types combination information and one-type combination information,

the all types combination information includes all types of status information concerning all of the plurality of types of status and identification information,

the one-type combination information includes one type of status information concerning one of the plurality of types of status and identification information, and

in a case where the second communication device obtains the status information following the change concerning any one of the plurality of types of status, the second communication device stores one-type combination information including the status information following the change and new identification information in the second storage device.

4. The communication system as in claim 3, wherein

the second storage device is configured to store one item of all-types combination information and a plurality of items of one-type combination information, and

in a case where the second communication device obtains the status information following the change concerning any one of the plurality of types of status, the second communication device:

(1) creates, based on the all-types combination information and the oldest one-type combination information stored in the second storage device, new all-types combination information including all types of status information and identification information included in the oldest one-type combination information,

(2) deletes the all-types combination information and the oldest one-type combination information from the second storage device,

(3) stores the new all types all types combination information in the second storage device, and

(4) stores new one-type combination information including the status information following the change and new identification information in the second storage device.

5. The communication system as in claim 4, wherein

the second memory stores additional computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the second processor, further cause the second communication device to:

in a case where the received identification information is not identical to the latest identification information, (1) specify the difference status information concerning a type of status which has changed in a period from a time at which one-type combination information including the received identification information was stored in the second storage device to a time at which the latest one-type combination information was stored in the second storage device, and (2) send the difference combination information including the specified difference status information and the latest identification information to the first communication device.

6. The communication system as in claim 1, wherein the second memory stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the second processor, further cause the second communication device to:

send the difference combination information to the first communication device in a case where the received identification information is not identical to the latest identification information although the received identification information is stored in the second storage device, and send combination information including the latest identification information and the status information concerning the plurality of types of status corresponding to the latest identification information in a case where the received identification information is not identical to the latest identification information due to the received identification information not being stored in the second storage device.

7. A communication system comprising:

a first communication device; and

a second communication device configured to be connected with the first communication device in a communicable manner,

wherein the first communication device comprises;

a first storage device configured to store identification information;

a first processor; and

first memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the first processor, cause the first communication device to;

send the identification information stored in the first storage device to the second communication device;

receive combination information sent from the second communication device;

output status information included in the received combination information; and

update stored contents of the first storage device such that identification information included in the received combination information is stored in the first storage device,

wherein the second communication device comprises;

a second storage device configured to store a plurality of items of combination information, each item of combination information including status information and identification information;

a second processor; and

second memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the second processor, cause the second communication device to;

obtain status information concerning each of a plurality of types of status of the second communication device;

update stored contents of the second storage device such that the latest combination information, including the latest obtained status information and new identification information, is stored in the second storage device;

receive the identification information sent from the first communication device;

determine whether first status information concerning the plurality of types of status corresponding to the received identification information is identical to second status information concerning the plurality of types of status corresponding to the latest identification information included in the latest combination information stored in the second storage device;

send difference combination information to the first communication device in a case where the first status information is not identical to the second status information, the difference combination information including the latest identification information and difference status information, the difference status information being a difference between the first status information and the second status information; and

refrain from sending combination information to the first communication device in a case where the first status information is identical to the second status information.

8. The communication system as in claim 7, wherein the second memory stores additional computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the second processor, further cause the second communication device to:

determine whether the received identification information is identical to the latest identification information,

in a case where the received identification information is not identical to the latest identification information, and the first status information is identical to the second status information, send the latest identification information to the first communication device and does not send the status information.

9. The communication system as in claim 7, wherein the second memory stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the second processor, further cause the second communication device to:

send the difference combination information to the first communication device in a case where the first status information is not identical to the second status information although the received identification information is stored in the second storage device, and

send combination information including the latest identification information and the second status information in a case where the first status information is not identical to the second status information due to the received identification information not being stored in the second storage device.

10. A communication device configured to be connected with another communication device in a communicable manner, the communication device comprising:

a storage device configured to store a plurality of items of combination information, each item of combination information including status information and identification information;

a processor; and

memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the communication device to;

obtain status information concerning each of a plurality of types of status of the communication device itself;

update the stored contents of the storage device such that the latest combination information, including the latest obtained status information and new identification information,. is stored in the storage device;

receive identification information sent from the other communication device;

determine whether the received identification information is identical to the latest identification information included in the latest combination information stored in the storage device;

send difference combination information to the other communication device in a case where the received identification information is not identical to the latest identification information, the difference combination information including the latest identification information and difference status information, the difference status information being a difference between status information concerning the plurality of types of status corresponding to the received identification information and status information concerning the plurality of types of status corresponding to the latest identification information; and

refrain from sending combination information to the other communication device in a case where the received identification information is identical to the latest identification information.

11. The communication device as in claim 10, wherein the memory stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the communication device to:

send the difference combination information to the other communication device in a case where the received identification information is not identical to the latest identification information although the received identification information is stored in the storage device, and

send combination information including the latest identification information and the status information concerning the plurality of types of status corresponding to the latest identification information in a case where the received identification information is not identical to the latest identification information due to the received identification information not being stored in the storage device.

12. A communication device configured to be connected with another communication device in a communicable manner, the communication device comprising:

a storage device configured to store a plurality of items of combination information, each item of combination information including status information and identification information;

a processor; and

memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the communication device to;

obtain status information concerning each of a plurality of types of status of the communication device itself;

update the stored contents of the storage device such that the latest combination information, including the latest obtained status information and new identification information,. is stored in the storage device;

receive identification information sent from the other communication device;

determine whether first status information concerning the plurality of types of status corresponding to the received identification information is identical to second status information concerning the plurality of types of status corresponding to the latest identification information included in the latest combination information stored in the storage device;

send difference combination information to the other communication device in a case where the first status information is not identical to the second status information, the difference combination information including the latest identification information and difference status information, the difference status information being a difference between the first status information and the second status information; and

refrain from sending combination information to the other communication device in a case where the first status information is identical to the second status information.

13. The communication system as in claim 12, wherein the memory stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the communication device to:

send the difference combination information to the other communication device in a case where the first status information is not identical to the second status information although the received identification information is stored in the storage device, and

send combination information including the latest identification information and the second status information in a case where the first status information is not identical to the second status information due to the received identification information not being stored in the storage device.

14. A communication device system, comprising:

a first communication device;

a second communication device configured to be connected with the first communication device in a communicable manner,

wherein the first communication device comprises;

a first storage device configured to store identification information;

a first processor; and

first memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the first processor, cause the first communication device to;

send the identification information stored in the first storage device to the second communication device;

receive combination information sent from the second communication device;

output status information included in the received combination information; and

update stored contents of the first storage device such that identification information included in the received combination information is stored in the first storage device, wherein the second communication device comprises;

a second storage device configured to store one item of all-types combination information and a plurality of items of one-type combination information, the all-types combination information including all types of status information concerning all of the plurality of types of status and identification information, the one-type combination information including one-type of status information concerning one of the plurality of types of status and identification information;

a second processor; and

second memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the second processor, cause the second communication device to;

obtain, in a case where any one of a plurality of types of status of the second communication device changes, status information following the change;

update stored contents of the second storage device, wherein in a case where the status information is obtained following a change, the second communication device (1) creates, based on the all-types combination information and the oldest one-type combination information stored in the second storage device, new all-types combination information including all types of status information and identification information included in the oldest one-type combination information, (2) deletes the all-types combination information and the oldest one-type combination information from the second storage device, (3) stores the new all-types combination information in the second storage device, and (4) stores new one-type combination information including the status information following the change and new identification information in the second storage device;

receive the identification information sent from the first communication device;

determine whether the received identification information is identical to the latest identification information included in the latest combination information stored in the second storage device;

send at least the latest combination information to the first communication device in a case where the received identification information is not identical to the latest identification information; and

refrain from sending combination information to the first communication device in a case where the received identification information is identical to the latest identification information.

15. A communication device configured to be connected with another communication device in a communicable manner, the communication device comprising:

a storage device configured to store one item of all-types combination information and a plurality of items of one-type combination information, the all-types combination information including all types of status information concerning all of the plurality of types of status and identification information, the one-type combination information including one type of status information concerning one of the plurality of types of status and identification information;

a processor; and

memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the communication device to;

obtain, in a case where any one of a plurality of types of status of the communication device changes, status information following the change;

update stored contents of the storage device, wherein in a case where the status information is obtained following a change, the communication device (1) creates, based on the all-types combination information and the oldest one-type combination information stored in the storage device, new all-types combination information including all types of status information and identification information included in the oldest one-type combination information, (2) deletes the all-types combination information and the oldest one-type combination information from the storage device, (3) stores the new all-types combination information in the storage device, and (4) stores new one-type combination information including the status information following the change and new identification information in the storage device;

receive the identification information sent from the other communication device;

determine whether the received identification information is identical to the latest identification information included in the latest combination information stored in the storage device;

send at least the latest combination information to the other communication device in a case where the received identification information is not identical to the latest identification information; and

refrain from sending combination information to the other communication device in a case where the received identification information is identical to the latest identification information.