Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Communication
Reexamination Certificate
1996-07-10
2001-02-06
Coles, Edward L. (Department: 2722)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Communication
C358S001130, C358S001140, C710S025000, C710S058000, C710S059000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06184995
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printer apparatus, a control method thereof, and a printer system and, more particularly, to a printer apparatus through, for example, a network, a control method thereof, and a printer system.
2. Related Background Art
Hitherto, an output apparatus such as a printer or the like is connected to a host computer (hereinbelow, simply referred to as a host) or the like by an LAN such as Ethernet or the like, thereby constructing an information processing system. Not only one host but also a plurality of hosts, a plurality of printers, a plurality of scanners, and further, a facsimile apparatus, a communicating control apparatus, and the like for performing a data communication with an external apparatus are connected to the LAN, so that there is a case where an LAN system of a large scale which shares data transmission paths is constructed.
In such an LAN system, since information processing apparatuses constructing the system efficiently uses the data transmission paths, each of the constructing apparatuses always monitors a busy state of the data transmission path. When a certain constructing apparatus tries to communicate with another constructing apparatus or when the communication is impossible for a predetermined time or more because a load of the data transmission path is high during the communication, the LAN system controls so as to temporarily stop the communication (it is called a time-out process).
Further, a plurality of same kind (same performance, same format, and same operation environment can be set by the same procedure) of apparatuses can be also connected to such an LAN system. However, upon connection, it is necessary to perform an environment setting to operate in the LAN system to each of the apparatuses.
However, in the conventional apparatus, since a plurality of hosts and peripheral equipment are connected, a large amount of data flows into the data transmission path in a lump. When the load of the data transmission path rises and the communication is temporarily interrupted, the user cannot judge whether the interruption of the communication was caused due to a failure of an apparatus on the communication partner of such a communication or by a reason such that the own apparatus finished a session or by a delay of the communication due to a mere increase in the load of the data transmission path. There is, consequently, a problem such that the time-out process is unconditionally performed when a predetermined time elapses after the time point of the interruption of the communication.
For example, when the transmission of data is interrupted while the printer is receiving the data from the host, the user cannot judge whether the interruption occurs because the host of the data transmitting source interrupted the data transmission or a delay of the transmission of data occurs due to an increase in load of the data transmission path. Thus, the user performs the time-out process without intending.
When a plurality of same kind of printers are connected to the LAN system, since the environment setting has to be similarly repetitively performed many times, the setting operation is very troublesome. On the other hand, as for specific information (for example, apparatus identifier), the peculiar environment setting has to be performed to each printer, so that the user of the apparatus is required to carefully perform the setting. Therefore, there is a problem such that in spite of a fact that such an environment setting operation is troublesome and needs a scrupulous care, the setting is likely to fail.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is made in consideration of the above conventional apparatus and it is an object to provide a printer apparatus, a control method thereof, and a printer system in which the environment setting can be easily performed and which can perform a proper process on the basis of an operation environment.
To accomplish the above object, according to the invention, there is provided a printer apparatus which is connected through a network, comprising: measuring means for measuring a use load of the network; and setting means for setting a waiting time of data from a host in accordance with the use load measured by the measuring means.
The printer apparatus of the invention further comprises: judging means for judging whether the apparatus has been connected to the network or not; and setting means for setting a waiting time of data on the basis of the judgment by the judging means.
According to the invention, there is provided a control method of the printer apparatus which is connected through a network, comprising: a measuring step of measuring a use load of the network; and a setting step of setting a waiting time of data from a host in accordance with the use load measured by the measuring step.
The control method of the printer apparatus according to the invention further comprises: a judging step of judging whether the apparatus has been connected to the network or not; a setting step of setting a waiting time of data on the basis of the judgment by the judging step.
According to the invention, there is provided a printer system in which a plurality of printer apparatuses and a host to transmit print data to the plurality of printer apparatuses are connected through a network, wherein the host has: receiving means for receiving operating conditions set in a first printer apparatus from the first printer apparatus among the plurality of printer apparatuses; and transmitting means for transmitting the operating conditions received by the receiving means to the other printer apparatuses excluding the first printer apparatus.
The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4930087 (1990-05-01), Egawa et al.
patent: 5579447 (1996-11-01), Salgado
patent: 5623606 (1997-04-01), Yokoyama et al.
patent: 5647056 (1997-07-01), Barrett et al.
patent: 5706281 (1998-01-01), Hasimoto et al.
patent: 5751799 (1998-05-01), Mori
patent: 5905906 (1999-05-01), Goffinet et al.
Mori Jun-ichi
Okazawa Takashi
Sakai Hideki
Shibahara Yasuko
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Coles Edward L.
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Wallerson Mark
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