Imaging device information management system

• US 8,495,202 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Kawai, Sunao
• Primary Examiner(s): HIGA, BRENDAN Y
• Application Number:
  US10/900,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20050111856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,282 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-229, 709217-219, 358/402, 358/1.15, 715733-737
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1203 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1229 Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration

Abstract

An imaging device information management system includes a plurality of computers interconnected through a network. A managed computer includes a primary imaging device information obtaining system that obtains imaging device information from the imaging device. A managing computer includes a computer information obtaining system that obtains computer information from the managed computer, a secondary imaging device information obtaining system that obtains the imaging device information obtained by the primary imaging device information obtaining system from the managed computer, and an information storing system that creates correspondence information representing a correspondence between the managed computer and the imaging device in accordance with the computer information obtained by the computer information obtaining system and the imaging device information obtained by the secondary imaging device information obtaining system, and stores the correspondence information in a storage.

Claims

1. A system including a managing computer device, a managed computer device and at least one first imaging device, the managing computer device and the managed computer device being directly connected to a network, the at least one first imaging device not being directly connected to the network, and the managed computer device being directly connected to the at least one first imaging device, wherein:

the managed computer device is connected to obtain device information of the at least one first imaging device from the at least one first imaging device, and configured to transmit the device information of the at least one first imaging device and the device information of the managed computer device to the managing computer device,

the managing computer device stores device information of one or more managed computer devices connected to the network, the managing computer device being configured to display a list concerning the managed computer devices connected to the network based on the stored device information,

the managing computer device is configured to;

store first schedule information defining a timing at which the managed computer device obtains the device information from the at least one first imaging device;

store access information for each of the managed computer devices, the access information representing whether each of the managed computer devices included in the list of the managed computer devices is accessible;

automatically judge whether a predetermined period has passed from the timing indicated by the first schedule information if the managing computer device stores the first schedule information;

judge, for each of the managed computer devices, whether the access information indicates that each of the managed computer devices is accessible if it is judged that the predetermined period has passed from the timing indicated by the first schedule information;

transmit a request for obtaining device information of the at least one first imaging device to the managed computer device corresponding to the access information, which is judged to indicate that the managed computer device is accessible when the access information indicates that the managed computer device is accessible, the request for obtaining the device information being not transmitted to the managed computer device corresponding to the access information judged to indicate that the managed computer device is not accessible;

receive the device information of the at least one first imaging device from the managed computer device to which the request for obtaining the device information is transmitted;

generate a device list of the at least one first imaging device based on a combination of the device information received from the managed computer device and the stored device information of the managed computer devices; and

display the generated device list of the at least one first imaging device when one of the managed computer devices included in the list is selected, and

if the selected managed computer device is a device that has been judged as an accessible device, the managing computer device requests the selected managed computer device for the device information, while if the selected managed computer device is a device that has been judged as an inaccessible device, the managing computer device does not request the selected managed computer device for the device information.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the device information of the at least one first imaging device includes a plurality of items, and the device information of the managed computer device includes a plurality of items,

there exists at least one item included in the device information of the at least one first imaging device such that the item is not included in the device information of the managed computer device, and there exists at least one item included in the device information of the managed computer device such that the item is not included in the device information of the at least one first imaging device, the plurality of items included in the device information of the managed computer device include at least identification information of the managed computer device on the network, and

the plurality of items included in the device information of the at least one first imaging device include at least one of information about usage statuses of consumable substances equipped in the at least one first imaging device, identification information of the at least one first imaging device, the identification information uniquely identifying the at least one first imaging device, and connection information of the at least one first imaging device with respect to the managed computer device.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the managing computer device includes a Web server function, and

a second managed computer device having a Web browser function connected to the network is able to display the list on a browser of the second managed computer device by accessing the Web server function of the managing device.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of first imaging devices are connected to the managed computer device through a local network, and

the managed computer device is configured to obtain pieces of device information of all of the plurality of first imaging devices connected to the managed computer device, and configured to transmit all the pieces of obtained device information to the managing computer device in response to a single request for device information transmitted from the managing computer device.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of managed computer devices are connected to the network, and

the managing computer device is configured to obtain, from all of the managed computer devices selected from the plurality of managed computer devices, pieces of device information of the first imaging devices connected to the respective selected managed computer devices, and the managing computer device is configured to display the pieces of device information of the first imaging devices connected to the respective selected managed computer devices obtained from the respective selected managed computer devices as a single device list.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the system further includes a second imaging device directly connected to the network,

the managing computer device is configured to obtain device information of the second imaging device directly from the second imaging device, and

the managing computer device is configured to obtain a set of device information of the at least one first imaging device and device information of the managed computer device through the managed computer device.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein:

when a program installed on the managing computer device is executed, the managing computer device is configured to display a device information list concerning a group of second imaging devices, and

the managing computer device is configured to display a device information list concerning a group of first imaging devices directly connected to respective managed computer devices, when a predetermined button which is different from the device information list is selected.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the managing computer device is configured to display the device information list concerning the group of the first imaging devices such that IP addresses of the managed computer devices directly connected to the first imaging devices are displayed in the device information list concerning the group of the first imaging devices in association with respective pieces of device information of the first imaging devices.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the managed computer device is configured to obtain the device information of the at least one first imaging device from the at least one first imaging device with a printer command.

10. The system according to claim 1,

wherein the managing computer device is configured to:

store second schedule information designating a timing at which the managing computer device transmits a request for the device information to the managed computer device separately from the first schedule information;

judge whether a current time meets the timing indicated by the second schedule information;

judge whether the access information of each of the managed computer devices in the list indicates an accessible state when it is judged that the current time meets the timing indicated by the second schedule information;

transmit a request for obtaining device information of the at least one first imaging device to the managed computer device corresponding to the access information which is judged to indicate that the managed computer device is accessible when the access information indicates that the managed computer device is accessible;

judge whether current time meets a timing predetermined period from the timing indicated by the first schedule information when it is judged that the current time does not meet the timing indicated by the second schedule information;

judge whether the access information of each of the managed computer devices in the list indicates an inaccessible state when it is judged that the predetermined period has passed from the timing indicated by the first schedule information;

transmit a request for obtaining device information of the at least one first imaging device to the managed computer device corresponding to the access information which is judged to indicate that the managed computer device is accessible when the access information indicates that the managed computer device is accessible, the request for obtaining the device information being not transmitted to the managed computer device corresponding to the access information judged to indicate that the managed computer device is not accessible.

11. The system according to claim 1,

wherein the managing computer device is configured to:

output a user interface used to receive a user operation to designate a timing at which the managed computer device obtains the device information from the first imaging device;

request the managed computer device to set a timing at which the managed computer device obtains the device information from and store the first schedule information designating the timing at which the managed computer device obtains the device information from the first imaging device when the managed computer device receives the user operation to designate the timing at which the managed computer device obtains the device information from the first imaging device, after outputting the user interface;

output a user interface used to designate a timing at which the managing computer device obtains the device information from the managed computer device; and

store the second schedule information designating the timing at which the managing computer device obtains the device information from the managed computer device when the managing computer device receives the user operation to designate the timing at which the managing device obtains the device information from the managed computer device, after outputting the user interface.

12. The system according to claim 1,

wherein the managing computer device is configured to:

output a user interface used to receive a user operation to designate whether each of the managed computer devices in the list is to be accessible or inaccessible;

store access information representing that the managed computer device is accessible, in association with the managed computer device to which the received user operation is directed, when the managing computer device receives the user operation instructing to set the managed computer device accessible after outputting the user interface; and

store access information representing that the managed computer device is inaccessible, in association with the managed computer device to which the received user operation is directed, when the managing computer device receives the user operation instructing to set the managed computer device inaccessible after outputting the user interface.

13. The system according to claim 1,

the managing computer device is further configured to:

for each of the plurality of managed computer devices as listed, store the access information representing that the managed computer device is accessible when the reply to the request transmitted to the managed computer device is received therefrom in association with the managed computer device which transmitted the reply, and store the access information representing that the managed computer device is not accessible when a reply to the request transmitted to the managed computer device is not received therefrom in association with the managed computer device which is to transmit the reply;

output a user interface used to receive a user operation to instruct transmission of a request to the managed computer device;

transmit a request to the managed computer device at a timing independent of the timing represented by the second schedule information or the predetermined period has passed from the timing indicated by the first schedule information when a user operation to instruct transmission of the request to the managed computer device after outputting the user interface; and

store the access information representing that the managed computer device is accessible when the replay to the request transmitted to the managed computer device is received, and store the access information representing that the managed computer device is not accessible when a replay to the request transmitted to the managed computer device is not received.

14. The system according to claim 1,

wherein the access information includes first access information and second access information;

and

wherein the managing computer device is configured to;

output a user interface used to receive a user operation to designate whether each of the managed computer devices in the list is to be accessible or inaccessible; and

store the first access information representing that the managed computer device is accessible, in association with the managed computer device to which the received user operation is directed, when the managing computer device receives the user operation instructing to set the managed computer device accessible after outputting the user interface, and store the first access information representing that the managed computer device is inaccessible, in association with the managed computer device to which the received user operation is directed, when the managing computer device receives the user operation instructing to set the managed computer device inaccessible after outputting the user interface;

for each of the plurality of managed computer devices as listed, store the second access information representing that the managed computer device is accessible when the replay to the request transmitted to the managed computer device is received therefrom in association with the managed computer device which transmitted the reply, and store the second access information representing that the managed computer device is not accessible when a replay to the request transmitted to the managed computer device is not received therefrom in association with the managed computer device which is to transmit the reply;

output a user interface used to receive a user operation to instruct transmission of a request to the managed computer device;

transmit a request to the managed computer device at a timing independent of the timing represented by the second schedule information or the timing predetermined period after the timing represented by the first schedule information when a user operation to instruct transmission of the request to the managed computer device after outputting the user interface;

store the second access information representing that the managed computer device is accessible when the replay to the request transmitted to the managed computer device is received, and store the second access information representing that the managed computer device is not accessible when a replay to the request transmitted to the managed computer device is not received;

store second schedule information representing a timing at which the managing computer device transmits a request for the device information to the managed computer device separately form the first schedule information,

the managing computer device being further configured to;

judge, whether a current time meets the timing represented by the second schedule information;

judge, for each of the managed computer devices in the list, whether the first access information represents the managed computer device is accessible and the second access information represents the managed computer device is accessible when the current time meets the timing represented by the second schedule information, and request he managed computer device of which the first access information represents the managed computer device is accessible and the second access information represents the managed computer device is accessible for the device information; and

judge, for each of the managed computer devices in the list, whether the first access information represents the managed computer device is accessible and the second access information represents the managed computer device is accessible when the current time is before the timing represented by the second schedule information but at a timing at which the predetermined period has passed from the timing indicated by the first schedule information, and request the managed computer device of which the first access information represents the managed computer device is accessible and the second access information represents the managed computer device is accessible for the device information.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the managing computer device judges whether each of the managed computer devices included in the list of the managed computer devices is accessible and stores results in association with the managed computer devices.

16. A method of operating a system that includes a managing computer device, a managed computer device and at least one first imaging device, the managing computer device and the managed computer device being directly connected to a network, the at least one first imaging device not being directly connected to the network, and the managed computer device being directly connected to the at least one first imaging device, the method comprising:

obtaining device information via the managed computer device of the at least one first imaging device from the at least one first imaging device, and transmitting the device information of the at least one first imaging device and the device information of the managed computer device to the managing computer device;

storing via the managing computer device information of one or more managed computer devices connected to the network;

displaying a list via the managing computer device concerning the managed computer devices connected to the network based on the stored device information;

storing first schedule information via the managing computer device defining a timing at which the managed computer device obtains the device information from the at least one first imaging device;

storing access information via the managing computer device for each of the managed computer devices, the access information representing whether each of the managed computer devices included in the list of the managed computer devices is accessible;

automatically judging via the managing computer device whether a predetermined period has passed from the timing indicated by the first schedule information if the managing computer device stores the first schedule information;

judging via the managing computer device, for each of the managed computer devices, whether the access information indicates that each of the managed computer devices is accessible if it is judged that the predetermined period has passed from the timing indicated by the first schedule information;

transmitting via the managing computer device a request for obtaining device information of the at least one first imaging device to the managed computer device corresponding to the access information, which is judged to indicate that the managed computer device is accessible when the access information indicates that the managed computer device is accessible, the request for obtaining the device information being not transmitted to the managed computer device corresponding to the access information judged to indicate that the managed computer device is not accessible;

receiving via the managing computer device the device information of the at least one first imaging device from the managed computer device to which the request for obtaining the device information is transmitted;

generating via the managing computer device a device list of the at least one first imaging device based on a combination of the device information received from the managed computer device and the stored device information of the managed computer devices; and

displaying via the managing computer device the generated device list of the at least one first imaging device when one of the managed computer devices included in the list is selected,

wherein, if the selected managed computer device is a device that has been judged as an accessible device, the managing computer device requests the selected managed computer device for the device information, while if the selected managed computer device is a device that has been judged as an inaccessible device, the managing computer device does not request the selected managed computer device for the device information.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer-executable program for a system that includes a managing computer device, a managed computer device and at least one first imaging device, the managing computer device and the managed computer device being directly connected to a network, the at least one first imaging device not being directly connected to the network, and the managed computer device being directly connected to the at least one first imaging device, the computer program comprising instructions for:

obtaining device information via the managed computer device of the at least one first imaging device from the at least one first imaging device, and transmitting the device information of the at least one first imaging device and the device information of the managed computer device to the managing computer device;

storing via the managing computer device information of one or more managed computer devices connected to the network;

displaying a list via the managing computer device concerning the managed computer devices connected to the network based on the stored device information;

storing first schedule information via the managing computer device defining a timing at which the managed computer device obtains the device information from the at least one first imaging device;

storing access information via the managing computer device for each of the managed computer devices, the access information representing whether each of the managed computer devices included in the list of the managed computer devices is accessible;

automatically judging via the managing computer device whether a predetermined period has passed from the timing indicated by the first schedule information if the managing computer device stores the first schedule information;

judging via the managing computer device, for each of the managed computer devices, whether the access information indicates that each of the managed computer devices is accessible if it is judged that the predetermined period has passed from the timing indicated by the first schedule information;

transmitting via the managing computer device a request for obtaining device information of the at least one first imaging device to the managed computer device corresponding to the access information, which is judged to indicate that the managed computer device is accessible when the access information indicates that the managed computer device is accessible, the request for obtaining the device information being not transmitted to the managed computer device corresponding to the access information judged to indicate that the managed computer device is not accessible;

receiving via the managing computer device the device information of the at least one first imaging device from the managed computer device to which the request for obtaining the device information is transmitted;

generating via the managing computer device a device list of the at least one first imaging device based on a combination of the device information received from the managed computer device and the stored device information of the managed computer devices; and

displaying via the managing computer device the generated device list of the at least one first imaging device when one of the managed computer devices included in the list is selected,

wherein, if the selected managed computer device is a device that has been judged as an accessible device, the managing computer device requests the selected managed computer device for the device information, while if the selected managed computer device is a device that has been judged as an inaccessible device, the managing computer device does not request the selected managed computer device for the device information.