Automated pairing of multifunction devices and external devices

• US 9,369,606 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2012
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Tredoux, Gavan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): WALLACE, JOHN R
• Application Number:
  US13/611,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20140071471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,371 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1232 Transmitting printer device capabilities, e.g. upon request or periodically
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1291 Pool of printer devices: self-managing printing devices in a network, e.g. without a server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00474 outputting a plurality of functional options, e.g. scan, copy or print
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32502 in systems having a plurality of input or output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0072 Detecting the status of a connected apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0098 User intervention not otherwise provided for, e.g. placing documents, responding to an alarm

Abstract

A hash table method and structure comprises a processor that receives a plurality of access requests for access to a storage device. The processor performs a plurality of hash processes on the access requests to generate a first number of addresses for each access request. Such addresses are within a full address range. Hash table banks are operatively connected to the processor. The hash table banks form the storage device. Each of the hash table banks has a plurality of input ports. Specifically, each of the hash table banks has less input ports than the first number of addresses for each access request. The processor provides the addresses to the hash table banks, and each of the hash table banks stores pointers corresponding to a different limited range of addresses within the full address range (each of the different limited range of addresses is less than the full address range).

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a graphic user interface; and

a wireless network connection operatively connected to said processor,

said wireless network connection discovering a multifunction printing device when a network address of said multifunction printing device is unknown to said apparatus,

said apparatus being external to said multifunction printing device,

said graphic user interface displaying a message for a user to physically move a lid, media tray, document feeder, or access door of said multifunction printing device to wirelessly pair said apparatus to said multifunction printing device,

said processor detecting said user moving said lid, media tray, document feeder, or access door after said apparatus has displayed said message,

in response to said processor detecting said user moving said lid, media tray, document feeder, or access door, said multifunction printing device automatically identifying said network address of said multifunction printing device to said apparatus, without further user input, and

said processor wirelessly pairing said apparatus to said multifunction printing device through said wireless network connection based on said network address of said multifunction printing device, in response only to said user moving said lid, media tray, document feeder, or access door, and without further user input.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, said processor causing said graphic user interface to display a menu of options to utilize features of said multifunction printing device after said processor wirelessly pairs said apparatus to said multifunction printing device.

3. The multifunction printing device according to claim 1, said processor wirelessly pairing said apparatus to said multifunction printing device allowing said apparatus to one of print documents, scan documents, and transmit documents over a network.

4. A mobile computerized device comprising:

a processor;

a graphic user interface; and

a wireless network connection operatively connected to said processor,

said wireless network connection discovering multifunction printing devices,

said apparatus being external to said multifunction printing devices,

said graphic user interface displaying a list of said multifunction printing devices and a message for a user to physically move a lid, media tray, document feeder, or access door of one of said multifunction printing devices to identify a selected multifunction printing device of said multifunction printing devices to wirelessly pair said apparatus with,

said selected multifunction printing device detecting said user moving said lid, media tray, document feeder, or access door after said apparatus has displayed said message,

in response to said selected multifunction printing device detecting said user moving said lid, media tray, document feeder, or access door, said selected multifunction printing device automatically identifying a network address of said selected multifunction printing device to said apparatus, without further user input, and

said processor wirelessly pairing said apparatus to said selected multifunction printing device through said wireless network connection based on said network address of said selected multifunction printing device, in response only to said user moving said lid, media tray, document feeder, or access door, and without further user input.

5. The mobile computerized device according to claim 4, said processor causing said graphic user interface to display a menu of options to utilize features of said multifunction printing device after said processor wirelessly pairs said apparatus to said selected multifunction printing device.

6. The mobile computerized device according to claim 4, said processor wirelessly pairing said apparatus to said selected multifunction printing device allowing said apparatus to one of print documents, scan documents, and transmit documents over a network.

7. A method of wirelessly pairing a multifunction printing device with an external device when a network address of said multifunction printing device is unknown to said external device, said external device being external to said multifunction printing device, said method comprising:

automatically discovering said multifunction printing device using a wireless network connection of said external device;

automatically causing said external device to display a message for a user to physically move a lid, media tray, document feeder, or access door of said multifunction printing device to wirelessly pair said external device to said multifunction printing device;

detecting said user moving said lid, media tray, document feeder, or access door by said multifunction printing device after said external device has displayed said message;

in response to said detecting said user moving said lid, media tray, document feeder, or access door, said multifunction printing device automatically identifying said network address of said multifunction printing device to said external device, without further user input; and

automatically wirelessly pairing said external device to said multifunction printing device through said wireless network connection based on said network address of said multifunction printing device, in response only to said user moving said lid, media tray, document feeder, or access door, and without further user input.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising causing said external device to display a menu of options to utilize features of said multifunction printing device after said wirelessly pairing is completed, operating through said wireless network connection.

9. The method according to claim 7, said wirelessly pairing allowing said external device to one of print documents, scan documents, and transmit documents over a network.

10. A method of wirelessly pairing a multifunction printing device with an external mobile computing device, said external mobile computing device being external to said multifunction printing device, said method comprising:

automatically discovering multifunction printing devices using a wireless network connection of said external mobile computing device;

automatically causing said external mobile computing device to display a list of said multifunction printing devices and a message for a user to physically move a lid, media tray, document feeder, or access door of one of said multifunction printing devices to identify a selected multifunction printing device of said multifunction printing devices to wirelessly pair said external mobile computing device with;

detecting said user moving said lid, media tray, document feeder, or access door by said selected multifunction printing device after said external mobile computing device has displayed said message;

in response to said detecting said user moving said lid, media tray, document feeder, or access door, said selected multifunction printing device automatically identifying a network address of said selected multifunction printing device to said external mobile computing device, without further user input; and

automatically wirelessly pairing said external mobile computing device to said selected multifunction printing device through said wireless network connection based on said network address of said selected multifunction printing device, in response only to said user moving said lid, media tray, document feeder, or access door, and without further user input.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising causing said external mobile computing device to display a menu of options to utilize features of said selected multifunction printing device after said wirelessly pairing is completed, operating through said wireless network connection.

12. The method according to claim 10, said wirelessly pairing allowing said external mobile computing device to one of print documents, scan documents, and transmit documents over a network.