Data processing apparatus, data processing method of data processing apparatus, and computer-readable memory medium storing program therin

• US 7,272,796 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2003
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sano, Tetsuji, Konishi, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cao (Kevin)
• Application Number:
  US10/736,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20040125145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,371 Days
• Field of Search: 715/707, 715/711, 715/714, 715/732, 715/741, 715/735, 715/736, 715/737, 715/738, 715/747, 715/739, 715/805, 705/35, 705/36, 705/37
• US Class Current: 715/738
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• 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 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1232 Transmitting printer device capabilities, e.g. upon request or periodically
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server

Abstract

To freely establish a peripheral equipment selection operating environment of excellent operability which can remarkably reduce an operation burden which is applied until construction information of selectable peripheral equipment can be confirmed and can easily confirm the construction information of the selectable peripheral equipment by everyone by a simple operating instruction, a CPU obtains construction information of a printer that is being selected and default setting on the basis of a selection instructing state relative to a selectable printer candidate on a network and allows them to be caption-displayed at a position near the position indicated by a cursor on a printer selection picture plane displayed on a CRT.

Claims

1. A data processing apparatus which can communicate with at least one peripheral device through a communication network, said data processing apparatus comprising:

obtaining means for obtaining construction information indicating a printing capability of each of the at least one peripheral device, the construction information being different for different peripheral devices;

set value recognition means for recognizing a current set value for the construction information obtained by said obtaining means;

discriminating means for discriminating an overlap state of an icon representing one of the at least one peripheral device and a cursor which can be moved and indicated; and

control means for, when it is determined by said discriminating means that the cursor is overlapping the icon representing one of the at least one peripheral device, caption-displaying the current set value recognized by said set value recognition means for the construction information of the peripheral device represented by the overlapped icon obtained by said obtaining means at a position where it is identifiable that the construction information corresponds to the icon overlapped by the cursor so that a user may easily select the peripheral device for data output,

wherein the current set value for the construction information to be caption-displayed indicates a current set value for at least one of color printing, duplex printing, and media size as a printing capability of the peripheral device.

2. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said obtaining means obtains the construction information by a bidirectional communication from the at least one peripheral device at a predetermined timing.

3. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said obtaining means obtains the construction information at a predetermined timing from a driver to control the at least one peripheral device.

4. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means caption-displays the set value of the construction information so that it can be identified.

5. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising print instructing means for instructing a printing of a target file by overlapping the target file onto the icon representing one of the at least one peripheral device and performing a drag and drop,

wherein in the case where the dragged target file is overlapped on the icon representing one of the at least one peripheral device which is in a selecting state as an output destination, said control means caption-displays the construction information of the peripheral device represented by the icon in the selecting state at a position near the icon in the selecting state.

6. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one peripheral device includes at least one of a printer, a scanner, a facsimile apparatus, a copying apparatus, and a hybrid apparatus combining functionality of two or more of a printer, a scanner, a facsimile apparatus and a copying apparatus.

7. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one peripheral device is connected to said data processing apparatus through a serial interface, a parallel interface, a universal serial bus (USB), an IEEE 1394 interface, or a network.

8. A data processing apparatus which can communicate with at least one peripheral device through a communication network, said data processing apparatus comprising:

discriminating means for discriminating an overlap state of an icon representing one of the at least one peripheral device and a cursor which can be moved and indicated;

obtaining means for, when it is determined by said discriminating means that said cursor is overlapping the icon representing one of the at least one peripheral device, obtaining construction information by a communication from the peripheral device represented by the overlapped icon, the construction information indicating a printing capability of the peripheral device and being different for different peripheral devices;

set value recognition means for recognizing a current set value for the construction information obtained by said obtaining means; and

control means for caption-displaying the current set value recognized by said set value recognition means for the construction information obtained by said obtaining means at a position where it is identifiable that the construction information corresponds to the icon overlapped by the cursor so that a user may easily select the peripheral device for data output,

wherein the current set value for the construction information to be caption-displayed indicates a current set value for at least one of color printing, duplex printing, and media size as a printing capability of the peripheral device.

9. A data processing method of a data processing apparatus which can communicate with at least one peripheral device through a communication network, said data processing method comprising:

an obtaining step of obtaining construction information indicating a printing capability of each of the at least one peripheral device, the construction information being different for different peripheral devices;

a recognition step of recognizing a current set value for the construction information obtained in said obtaining step;

a discriminating step of discriminating an overlap state of an icon representing one of the at least one peripheral device and a cursor which can be moved and indicated; and

a display step of, when it is determined in said discriminating step that the cursor is overlapping the icon representing one of the at least one peripheral device, caption-displaying the current set value recognized in said recognition step for the construction information of the peripheral device represented by the overlapped icon obtained in said obtaining step at a position where it is identifiable that the construction information corresponds to the icon overlapped by the cursor so that a user may easily select the peripheral device for data output,

wherein the current set value for the construction information to be caption-displayed indicates a current set value for at least one of color printing, duplex printing, and media size as a printing capability of the peripheral device.

10. A data processing method according to claim 9, wherein in said obtaining step, the construction information is obtained by a bidirectional communication from the at least one peripheral device at a predetermined timing.

11. A data processing method according to claim 9, wherein in said obtaining step, the construction information is obtained at a predetermined timing from a driver to control the at least one peripheral device.

12. A data processing method according to claim 9, wherein in said display step, the set value of the construction information is caption-displayed so that it can be identified.

13. A data processing method according to claim 9, further comprising a print instructing step of instructing a printing of a target file by overlapping the target file onto the icon representing one of the at least one peripheral device and performing a drag and drop,

wherein in the case where the dragged target file is overlapped on the icon representing the peripheral device which is in a selecting state as an output destination, the construction information of the peripheral device represented by the icon in the selecting state is caption-displayed in said display step at a position near the icon in the selecting state.

14. A data processing method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one peripheral device includes at least one of a printer, a scanner, a facsimile apparatus, a copying apparatus, and a hybrid apparatus combining functionality of two or more of a printer, a scanner, a facsimile apparatus and a copying apparatus.

15. A data processing method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one peripheral device is connected to the data processing apparatus through a serial interface, a parallel interface, a universal serial bus (USB), an IEEE 1394 interface, or a network.

16. A data processing method of a data processing apparatus which can communicate with at least one peripheral device through a communication network, said data processing comprising:

a discriminating step of discriminating an overlap state of an icon representing one of the at least one peripheral device and a cursor which can be moved and indicated;

an obtaining step of, when it is determined in said discriminating step that the cursor is overlapping the icon representing one of the at least one peripheral device, obtaining construction information by a communication from the peripheral device represented by the overlapped icon, the construction information indicating a printing capability of the peripheral device and being different for different peripheral devices;

a recognition step of recognizing a current set value for the construction information obtained in said obtaining step; and

a display step of caption-displaying the current set value recognized in said recognition step for the construction information obtained in said obtaining step at a position where it is identifiable that the construction information corresponds to the icon overlapped by the cursor so that a user may easily select the peripheral device for data output,

wherein the current set value for the construction information to be caption-displayed indicates a current set value for at least one of color printing, duplex printing, and media size as a printing capability of the peripheral device.

17. A computer-readable memory medium which stores a program to control a data processing apparatus which can communicate with at least one peripheral device through a predetermined communication network, wherein said program comprises:

an obtaining step of obtaining construction information indicating a printing capability of each of the at least one peripheral device, the construction information being different for different peripheral devices;

a recognition step of recognizing a current set value for the construction information obtained in said obtaining step;

a discriminating step of discriminating an overlap state of an icon representing one of the at least one peripheral device and a cursor which can be moved and indicated; and

a display step of, when it is determined in said discriminating step that the cursor is overlapping the icon representing one of the at least one peripheral device, caption-displaying the current set value recognized in said recognition step for the construction information of the peripheral device represented by the overlapped icon obtained in said obtaining step at a position where it is identifiable that the construction information corresponds to the icon overlapped by the cursor so that a user may easily select the peripheral device for data output,

wherein the current set value for the construction information to be caption-displayed indicates a current set value for at least one of color printing, duplex printing, and media size as a printing capability of the peripheral device.

18. A medium according to claim 17, wherein in said obtaining step, the construction information is obtained by a bidirectional communication from the at least one peripheral device at a predetermined timing.

19. A medium according to claim 17, wherein in said obtaining step, the construction information is obtained at a predetermined timing from a driver to control the at least one peripheral device.

20. A medium according to claim 17, wherein the set value of the construction information is caption-displayed in said display step so that it can be identified.

21. A medium according to claim 17, wherein said program further comprises a print instructing step of instructing a printing of a target file by overlapping the target file onto the icon representing one of the at least one peripheral device and performing a drag and drop,

wherein in the case where the dragged target file is overlapped on the icon representing the peripheral device which is in a selecting state as an output destination, the construction information of the peripheral device represented by the icon in the selecting state is caption-displayed at a position near the icon in the selecting state.

22. A medium according to claim 17, wherein the at least one peripheral device includes at least one of a printer, a scanner, a facsimile apparatus, a copying apparatus, and a hybrid apparatus combining functionality of two or more of a printer, a scanner, a facsimile apparatus and a copying apparatus.

23. A medium according to claim 17, wherein any of the at least one peripheral device is connected to the data processing apparatus through a serial interface, a parallel interface, a universal serial bus (USB), an IEEE 1394 interface, or a network.

24. A computer-readable memory medium which stores a program to control a data processing apparatus which can communicate with at least one peripheral device through a communication network, wherein said program comprises:

a discriminating step of discriminating an overlap state of an icon representing one of the at least one peripheral device and a cursor which can be moved and indicated;

an obtaining step of, when it is determined in said discriminating step that the cursor is overlapping the icon representing one of the at least one peripheral device, obtaining construction information by a communication from the peripheral device represented by the overlapped icon, the construction information indicating a printing capability of the peripheral device and being different for different peripheral devices;

a recognition step for recognizing a current set value for the construction information obtained in said obtaining step; and

a display step of caption-displaying the current set value recognized in said recognition step for the construction information obtained in said obtaining step at a position where it is identifiable that the construction information corresponds to the icon overlapped by the cursor so that a user may easily select the peripheral device for data output,

wherein the current set value for the construction information to be caption-displayed indicates a current set value for at least one of color printing, duplex printing, and media size as a printing capability of the peripheral device.

25. A computer-readable program to control a data processing apparatus which can communicate with at least one peripheral device through a communication network, said program comprising:

an obtaining step of obtaining construction information indicating a printing capability of each of the at least one peripheral device, the construction information being different for different peripheral devices;

a recognition step of recognizing a current set value for the construction information obtained in said obtaining step;

a discriminating step of discriminating an overlap state of an icon representing one of the at least one peripheral device and a cursor which can be moved and indicated; and

a display step of, when it is determined in said discriminating step that the cursor is overlapping the icon representing one of the at least one peripheral device, caption-displaying the current set value recognized in said recognition step for the construction information of the peripheral device represented by the overlapped icon obtained in said obtaining step at a position where it is identifiable that the construction information corresponds to the icon overlapped by the cursor so that a user may easily select the peripheral device for data output,

wherein the current set value for the construction information to be caption-displayed indicates a current set value for at least one of color printing, duplex printing, and media size as a printing capability of the peripheral device.

26. A program according to claim 25, wherein in said obtaining step, said construction information is obtained by a bidirectional communication from the at least one peripheral device at a predetermined timing.

27. A program according to claim 25, wherein in said obtaining step, the construction information is obtained at a predetermined timing from a driver to control the at least one peripheral device.

28. A program according to claim 25, wherein in said display step, the set value of the construction information is caption-displayed so that it can be identified.

29. A program according to claim 25, further comprising a print instructing step of instructing a printing of a target file by overlapping the target file onto the icon representing the peripheral device and performing a drag and drop,

wherein in the case where the dragged target file is overlapped on the icon representing the peripheral device which is in a selecting state as an output destination, the construction information of the peripheral device represented by the icon in the selecting state is caption-displayed in said display step at a position near the icon in the selecting state.

30. A program according to claim 25, wherein the at least one peripheral device includes at least one of a printer, a scanner, a facsimile apparatus, a copying apparatus, and a hybrid apparatus combining functionality of two or more of a printer, a scanner, a facsimile apparatus and a copying apparatus.

31. A program according to claim 25, wherein the at least one peripheral device is connected to the data processing apparatus through a serial interface, a parallel interface, a universal serial bus (USB), an IEEE 1394 interface, or a network.

32. A computer-readable program to control a data processing apparatus which can communicate with at least one peripheral device through a communication network, said program comprising:

a discriminating step of discriminating an overlap state of an icon representing one of the at least one peripheral device and a cursor which can be moved and indicated;

an obtaining step of, when it is determined in said discriminating step that the cursor is overlapping the icon representing one of the at least one peripheral device, obtaining construction information by a communication from the peripheral device represented by the overlapped icon, the construction information indicating a printing capability of the peripheral device and being different for different peripheral devices;

a recognition step for recognizing a current set value for the construction information obtained in said obtaining step; and

a display step of caption-displaying the current set value recognized in said recognition step for the construction information obtained in said obtaining step at a position where it is identifiable that the construction information corresponds to the icon overlapped by the cursor so that a user may easily select the peripheral device for data output,

wherein the current set value for the construction information to be caption-displayed indicates a current set value for at least one of color printing, duplex printing, and media size as a printing capability of the peripheral device.