Communication system, and communication device and computer readable medium for the same providing error-settlement status information

• US 8,456,663 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Kotake, Kanako
• Primary Examiner(s): DICKER, DENNIS T
• Application Number:
  US12/731,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20100259782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.14, 358/1.15, 715/705, 715/708, 715/709, 715/710, 715/714, 715/712, 715/721, 715/733, 715/751, 715/808
• US Class Current: 358/1.14
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5079 for maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0733 in a data processing system embedded in an image processing device, e.g. printer, facsimile, scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0769 Readable error formats, e.g. cross-platform generic formats, human understandable formats
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1207 resulting in the user being informed about print result after a job submission
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/121 Facilitating exception or error detection and recovery, e.g. fault, media or consumables depleted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1229 Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1234 Errors handling and recovery, e.g. reprinting G06F3/1261 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1259 Print job monitoring, e.g. job status
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server

Abstract

A communication system including a communication device and information display devices connected with the communication device. The communication device includes a status storage unit storing status information representing a status of the communication device, a status transmitter that in response to a status request from each information display device, transmits the stored status information to the information display devices, and an error settlement starting information receiver receiving, from one of the information display devices, error settlement stating information representing that error settlement is being started to fix an error of the communication device. Each information display device includes a display unit displaying an operable image when received status information includes an error status representing the error of the communication device, and an error settlement starting information transmitter that in response to the operable image being operated, transmit the error settlement starting information to the communication device.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a communication device; and

a plurality of information display devices connected communicably with the communication device,

wherein the communication device comprises;

a status storage unit configured to store status information representing a status of the communication device;

a status transmitter configured to, in response to receipt of a status request from each of the information display devices, transmit the status information stored on the status storage unit to the information display devices; and

an error settlement starting information receiver configured to receive, from one of the information display devices, error settlement starting information representing that error settlement is being started to fix an error caused in the communication device,

wherein each of the information display devices comprises;

a status requestor configured to issue, to the communication device, the status request for transmission of the status information stored on the communication device;

a status receiver configured to receive the status information that is transmitted by the communication device in response to the status request issued by the status requestor;

a display unit configured to display an operable image when the received status information includes an error status representing the error caused in the communication device; and

an error settlement starting information transmitter configured to, in response to the operable image displayed on the display unit being operated, transmit the error settlement starting information to the communication device,

wherein in response to the error settlement starting information receiver receiving the error settlement starting information from one of the information display devices, the status storage unit of the communication device stores an in-error-settlement status representing that error settlement is being performed to fix the error represented by the error status,

wherein the status transmitter of the communication device transmits the in-error-settlement status stored on the status storage unit to the information display devices, and

wherein in response to the status receiver receiving the in-error-settlement status from the communication device, the display unit of each information display device displays in-error-settlement information representing that error settlement is being performed to fix the error;

wherein the communication device further comprises a printing unit configured to perform a printing operation,

wherein each of the information display devices further comprises a print instructor configured to issue, to the communication device, a print instruction to cause the printing unit to perform a printing operation,

wherein the display device of each information display device is configured to display the operable image when status information, which is transmitted by the communication device in response to a status request issued at or after a time when the print instructor issues the print instruction, includes a print-related error status representing an error caused in the printing unit,

wherein each of the information display devices further comprises a monitor configured to monitor whether the status receiver receives the in-error-settlement status until a predetermined time period elapses after receipt of the print-related error status, and

wherein the display device of each information display device is configured to display the operable image when the monitor determines that the status receiver receives no in-error-settlement status until the predetermined time period elapses after receipt of the print-related error status.

2. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein when status information, which is transmitted by the communication device in response to a status request issued after the display unit displays the in-error-settlement information, includes no error status, the display unit stops displaying the in-error-settlement information.

3. A communication device configured to be connected communicably with a plurality of information display devices, comprising:

a status storage unit configured to store status information representing a status of the communication device;

a status transmitter configured to, in response to receipt of a status request from each of the information display devices, transmit the status information stored on the status storage unit to the information display devices; and

an error settlement starting information receiver configured to receive, from one of the information display devices, error settlement starting information representing that error settlement is being started to fix an error caused in the communication device.

4. A computer readable storage device having computer readable instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when executed by a processor connected communicably with a communication device, causing the processor to perform:

a status requesting step of issuing, to the communication device, a status request for transmission of status information stored on the communication device;

a status receiving step of receiving the status information that is transmitted by the communication device in response to the status request issued in the status requesting step;

a display step of displaying an operable image when the received status information includes an error status representing an error caused in the communication device; and

an error settlement starting information transmitting step of, in response to the operable image displayed in the display step being operated, transmitting to the communication device error settlement starting information representing that error settlement is being started to fix the error represented by the error status

wherein the communication device further comprises a printing unit configured to perform a printing operation,

wherein the instructions cause the processor to further perform;

a step of issuing, to the communication device, a print instruction to cause the printing unit to perform a printing operation;

a step of displaying the operable image when status information, which is transmitted by the communication device in response to a status request issued at or after a time when the print instruction is issued, includes a print-related error status representing an error caused in the printing unit,

a monitoring step of monitoring whether the in-error-settlement status is received until a predetermined time period elapses after receipt of the print-related error status; and

a step of displaying the operable image when it is determined in the monitoring step that no in-error-settlement status is received until the predetermined time period elapses after receipt of the print-related error status.

5. The computer readable storage device according to claim 4,

wherein the instructions cause the processor to further perform a step of, in response to receipt of an in-error-settlement status representing that error settlement is being performed to fix the error caused in the communication device from the communication device, displaying in-error-settlement information representing that error settlement is being performed to fix the error.

6. The computer readable storage device according to claim 5,

wherein the instructions cause the processor to further perform a step of, when status information, which is transmitted by the communication device in response to a status request issued after the in-error-settlement information is displayed, includes no error status, stopping displaying the in-error-settlement information.