Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/ – Input/output data processing – Peripheral adapting
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-30
2004-04-20
Wiley, David (Department: 2143)
Electrical computers and digital data processing systems: input/
Input/output data processing
Peripheral adapting
C709S228000, C709S232000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06725300
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for controlling devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a prior art technique, for example, in a state that a computer is connected to a scanner and a printer, a specific applications program is run on the computer to read image data with the scanner and print the input image data with the printer, so as to enable functions like a copying machine.
With regard to the combination of predetermined devices (the scanner and the printer in the above example), the prior art technique enables one device to receive and process the data transmitted from the other device under the specific applications program. With regard to the combination of arbitrary devices, on the other hand, there is no guarantee that one device can receive and process the data transmitted from the other device. In some cases, effective data transfer is accordingly not allowable between these arbitrary devices.
The prior art technique causes different user interfaces for the respective devices to be displayed separately in the process of performing the data transfer between these devices. This configuration forces the user to separately specify instructions on the different user interfaces, thereby undesirably worsening the operatability.
In one exemplified configuration, it is assumed that a certain device is connected to one computer and another device is connected to another computer, among a plurality of computers connecting with one another via a network. In this configuration, the prior art technique makes it rather difficult to transfer data between the certain device and the another device according to an applications program, which is activated by still another computer, since these computers are connected to one another via the network.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is thus to provide a device control system that enables effective data transfer between arbitrary devices and provides a user with optimized operatability with respect to any combination of devices.
At least part of the above and the other related objects is attained by a device control apparatus that enables control of a source device, which is a transmitter of data, and a destination device, which is a receiver of data. The device control apparatus includes: a device specification unit that specifies a source device and a destination device; and a decision unit that determines whether or not the specified destination device can receive and process data transmitted from the specified source device, based on attribute information of the specified source device and the specified destination device.
The present invention is also directed to a device control system including a source device, which is a transmitter of data, a destination device, which is a receiver of data, and a device control apparatus that enables control of the source device and the destination device. The device control apparatus includes: a device specification unit that specifies a source device and a destination device; and a decision unit that determines whether or not the specified destination device can receive and process data transmitted from the specified source device, based on attribute information of the specified source device and the specified destination device.
The present invention is further directed to a method of determining a combination of a source device, which is a transmitter of data, with a destination device, which is a receiver of data. The method includes the steps of: (a) specifying a source device and a destination device; and (b) determining whether or not the specified destination device can receive and process data transmitted from the specified source device, based on attribute information of the specified source device and the specified destination device.
As described above, in the device control apparatus, the device control system, and the method of determining a combination of devices according to the present invention, the process first specifies the source device and the destination device and subsequently determines whether or not the specified destination device can receive and process the data transmitted from the specified source device, based on the attribute information of the specified source device and the specified destination device.
In the specification hereof, the devices include not only physical devices but part of the functions of the physical devices, those having the equivalent functions to the physical devices by the software, and those handled equivalently to the physical devices. The physical devices include a scanner, a printer, a digital camera, a facsimile, a copying machine, and a variety of other computer peripheral equipment. The part of the functions of the physical devices include, for example, an external presentation of only the facsimile function of a multi-functional color copying machine. Those having the equivalent functions to the physical devices and those handled equivalently to the physical devices include, for example, electronic mail, image processing, a processing server, and an applications server. The applications server means that, for example, when an applications program automatically retrieves an image file included in a cache directory of Web browser, the applications program itself functions as a stationary image input device, such as a digital camera. In this case, the device does not have any physical entity.
In this specification, a device that enables at least transmission of data is defined as the source device, and a device that enables at least receipt of data is defined as the destination device. If a device for the intermediate processing enables at least transmission of data, the device can be regarded as the source device. If the device for the intermediate processing enables at least receipt of data, the same device can be regarded as the destination device. Namely any of such devices can be regarded as either the source device or the destination device.
In the description hereof, the specification of the source device and the destination device may be implemented by first specifying a certain group including a plurality of devices as possible candidates of at least either of the source device and the destination device and subsequently specifying at least either of a source device and a destination device in the certain group. Another possible procedure sequentially specifies at least either of source devices and destination devices in a certain group including a plurality of devices as possible candidates.
The device specification unit may specify the source device and the destination device according to an instruction given by a user or another apparatus, or automatically specify the source device and the destination device by a preset method.
The technique of the present invention carries out the determination for the combination of arbitrary devices and, in response to the affirmative result of the determination, guarantees that the destination device can receive and process the data transmitted from the source device. This accordingly ensures the effective data transfer between these arbitrary devices.
In accordance with one preferable application of the present invention, the device control apparatus further includes a user interface specification unit that, when the decision unit determines that the specified destination device can receive and process data transmitted from the specified source device, specifies a user interface for operating a composite device, which has both at least part of functions of the specified source device and at least part of functions of the specified destination device, as a user interface for operating both the specified source device and the specified destination device; and a display control unit that causes the user interface specified by the user interface specification unit to be displayed on a display unit.
In a similar manner, in accordance with one preferable application of the present inventi
Hisamatsu Yutaka
Katada Toshiharu
Miyasaka Takashi
Nagasaka Fumio
Yamauchi Kotaro
Neurauter George C
Seiko Epson Corporation
Wiley David
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