EP1067731A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for searching device on network
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 2000-06-30
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2020-06-30
Abstract
Abstract Location information of each device connected to a network is managed in a hierarchical structure to display the location of each device in a manner easy to be recognized by a user. The location information of each device connected to the network is managed in the hierarchical structure and layout bit maps are stored in each client. When a client issues a device search request, the hierarchical location of the device whose location search was requested can be identified, and the identified location of the device can be displayed in a way to be easily recognized. When the client displays the search result, it is unnecessary for a sever to transmit the layout bit map to the client.
Inventors
- 👤 Masato Canon Kabushik Kaisha Ochiai
- 👤 Nobuhiko Canon Kabushik Kaisha Maki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:16
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L41/00; H04L41/22; G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/20; G06F16/29; H04L41/12; H04L61/00; H04L61/45; H04L67/00; H04L67/50; H04L67/51; H04L67/52; H04L67/75; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/02; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99942; Y10S707/99943; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945; Y10S707/99946
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 55
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
An information processing apparatus for
searching a device on a network, comprising: management means for managing a database
registering a plurality piece of attribute information
corresponding to each device on the network, the
attribute information registered in the database having
hierarchical location information representing a
location of each device on the network in a
hierarchical data structure; search means for searching a device satisfying a
search condition from the database in response to a
reception of the search condition from another
information processing apparatus, the search condition
including at least one piece of the attribute
information; generation means for generating a search result
for notifying the searched device, the search result
including the hierarchical location information of the
searched device; and transmission means for transmitting the search
result to the other information processing apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
An information processing apparatus according
to claim 1, wherein said management means further
manages a plurality piece of map data in correspondence
with the hierarchical location information, the map
data being used for displaying a location relation of
the device, and said transmission means further
transmits the map data corresponding to the
hierarchical location information of the searched
device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
An information processing apparatus according
to claim 2, wherein one piece of the plurality piece of
map data is map data for indicating that the
hierarchical location information corresponding to the
searched device is not registered in the database.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
An information processing apparatus according
to claim 2, wherein the database of said managing means
further registers coordinate information of each device
indicating a position in an area of the map data, and
said transmission means further transmits the
coordinate information corresponding to the searched
device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
An information processing apparatus according
to claim 4, further comprising storage means for
storing a plurality piece of icon data representative
of the devices, wherein said transmission means further
transmits the icon data corresponding to the searched
device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
An information processing apparatus having a
database registering attribute information of a device
on a network, wherein the database registers attribute
information of each of a plurality of devices, the
attribute information comprising: at least one piece of static attribute information
representative of a performance of each device; and hierarchical location information indicating a
location of each device in a hierarchical data
structure, said hierarchical location information
including a plurality piece of hierarchical data
logically discriminated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
An information processing apparatus according
to claim 6, wherein an optional piece of the
hierarchical data of said hierarchical location
information is used as a part of a search condition for
searching the device from the database.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
An information processing apparatus according
to claim 6, further comprising management means for
managing a plurality piece of map data in
correspondence with the hierarchical location
information, the map data being used for displaying a
location of each device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
An information processing apparatus according
to claim 8, wherein one piece of the plurality piece of
map data is map data for indicating that the
hierarchical location information corresponding to the
searched device is not registered in the database.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
An information processing apparatus according
to claim 8, wherein the database further registers
coordinate information of each of a plurality of
devices, the coordinate information representing a
position in an area of the map data and output when the
search result is output.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
96 words
An information processing apparatus connected
to a network, comprising: input means for inputting a search condition for
searching a device on the network; request means for transmitting a search request
with the input search condition to a search apparatus
on the network; reception means for receiving a search result
corresponding to the search request, the search result
including hierarchical location information
representing a location of the searched device in a
hierarchical data structure; and control means for displaying location information
of the searched device in accordance with the
hierarchical location information included in the
search result.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
An information processing apparatus according
to claim 11, further comprising: storage means for storing at least one piece of
the map data corresponding to a predetermined
hierarchical level of the hierarchical location
information, wherein said control means displays the
location information of the searched device in
accordance with the hierarchical location information
included in the search result and corresponding map
data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
An information processing apparatus according
to claim 12, further comprising: storage means for storing a plurality piece of
icon data representative of devices, wherein said
control means displays the icon data corresponding to
the searched device, the icon data being superposed
upon the map data corresponding to the hierarchical
location information included in the search result.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
An information processing apparatus according
to claim 11, wherein said reception means further
receives the map data corresponding to the hierarchical
location information of the searched device, and said
control means displays the location information of the
searched device in accordance with the hierarchical
location data included in the searched result and the
received map data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
An information processing apparatus according
to claim 14, wherein said reception means further
receives the icon data representative of the searched
device, and said control means displays the icon data
corresponding to the searched device, the icon data
being superposed upon the map data corresponding to the
hierarchical location information of the searched
device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
75 words
An information processing apparatus according
to claim 15, wherein said reception means further
receives coordinate information of the searched device,
the coordinate information representing a position in
an area of the map data, and said control means
displays the icon data corresponding to the searched
device in accordance with the coordinate information of
the searched device, the icon data being superposed
upon the map data corresponding to the hierarchical
location information of the searched device.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
87 words
A device for processing a job requested via a
network, comprising: storage means for storing attribute information
including: at least one piece of static attribute
information representative of a performance of the
device; and hierarchical location information
indicating a location of the device in a hierarchical
data structure, said hierarchical location information
including a plurality piece of hierarchical data
logically discriminated; and control means for transmitting said static
attribute information and said hierarchical location
information stored in said storage means to the network
to search the device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device according to claim 17, wherein said
control means registers said static attribute
information and said hierarchical location information
stored in said storage means, in a directory server on
the network.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
147 words
A network system having at least first and
second information processing apparatuses and a
plurality of devices, wherein the first information
processing apparatus comprises: management means for managing a database
registering a plurality piece of attribute information
corresponding to each device on the network, the
attribute information registered in the database having
hierarchical location information representing a
location of each device on the network in a
hierarchical data structure; search means for searching a device satisfying a
search condition from the database in response to a
reception of the search condition from the second
information processing apparatus, the search condition
including at least one piece of the attribute
information; generation means for generating a search result
for notifying the searched device, the search result
including the hierarchical location information of the
searched device; and transmission means for transmitting the search
result to the second information processing apparatus.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
111 words
A network system having at least first and
second information processing apparatuses and a
plurality of devices, wherein the first information
processing apparatus manages a directory information
base which registers attribute information of each of a
plurality of devices, the attribute information
comprising: at least one piece of static attribute information
representative of a performance of each device; and hierarchical location information indicating a
location of each device in a hierarchical data
structure, said hierarchical location information
including a plurality piece of hierarchical data
logically discriminated, and wherein the first information processing apparatus
searches the directory information base in accordance
with a search condition supplied from the second
information processing apparatus.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
64 words
A network system according to claim 20,
wherein the device comprises: storage means for storing said static attribute
information and hierarchical location information; and control means for transmitting said static
attribute information and hierarchical location
information to the first information processing
apparatus and requesting the first information
processing apparatus to register said static attribute
information and hierarchical location information in
the directory information base.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
108 words
A network system having at least one
information processing apparatus and a plurality of
devices, wherein the information processing apparatus
comprises: input means for inputting a search condition for
searching a device on the network; request means for transmitting a search request
with the input search condition to a search apparatus
on the network; reception means for receiving a search result
corresponding to the search request, the search result
including hierarchical location information
representing a location of the searched device in a
hierarchical data structure; and control means for displaying location information
of the searched device in accordance with the
hierarchical location information included in the
search result.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
87 words
A network system according to claim 21,
wherein the device comprises: storage means for storing attribute information
including: at least one piece of static attribute
information representative of a performance of the
device; and hierarchical location information
indicating a location of the device in a hierarchical
data structure, said hierarchical location information
including a plurality piece of hierarchical data
logically discriminated; and control means for transmitting said static
attribute information and said hierarchical location
information stored in said storage means to the network
to search the device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
124 words
A network system having at least one
information processing apparatus and a plurality of
devices, wherein the information processing apparatus
transmits a signal for searching a device on the
network to the network, and the device comprises: storage means for storing attribute information
including: at least one piece of static attribute
information representative of a performance of the
device; and hierarchical location information
indicating a location of the device in a hierarchical
data structure, said hierarchical location information
including a plurality piece of hierarchical data
logically discriminated; and control means for transmitting a signal including
said static attribute information and said hierarchical
location information stored in said storage means to
the network to search the device at another information
processing apparatus on the network.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
138 words
An information processing method of searching
a device on a network, comprising: a management step of managing a database
registering a plurality piece of attribute information
corresponding to each device on the network, the
attribute information registered in the database having
hierarchical location information representing a
location of each device on the network in a
hierarchical data structure; a search step of searching a device satisfying a
search condition from the database in response to a
reception of the search condition from another
information processing apparatus, the search condition
including at least one piece of the attribute
information; a generation step of generating a search result
for notifying the searched device, the search result
including the hierarchical location information of the
searched device; and a transmission step of transmitting the search
result to the other information processing apparatus.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
59 words
An information processing method according to
claim 25, wherein said management step further manages
a plurality piece of map data in correspondence with
the hierarchical location information, the map data
being used for displaying a location relation of the
device, and said transmission step further transmits
the map data corresponding to the hierarchical location
information of the searched device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
An information processing method according to
claim 26, wherein one piece of the plurality piece of
map data is map data for indicating that the
hierarchical location information corresponding to the
searched device is not registered in the database.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
46 words
An information processing method according to
claim 26, wherein the database of said managing step
further registers coordinate information of each device
indicating a position in an area of the map data, and
said transmission step further transmits the coordinate
information corresponding to the searched device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
An information processing method according to
claim 28, further comprising a storage step of storing
a plurality piece of icon data representative of the
devices, wherein said transmission step further
transmits the icon data corresponding to the searched
device.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
97 words
An information processing method using a
database registering attribute information of a device
on a network, comprising: a registration step of registering attribute
information of each of a plurality of devices, the
attribute information comprising: at least one piece of
static attribute information representative of a
performance of each device; and hierarchical location
information indicating a location of each device in a
hierarchical data structure, the hierarchical location
information including a plurality piece of hierarchical
data logically discriminated; and a search step of searching a device satisfying a
search condition including the attribute information
from the database.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
An information processing method according to
claim 30, wherein an optional piece of the hierarchical
data of the hierarchical location information is used
as a part of a search condition for searching the
device from the database.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
40 words
An information processing method according to
claim 30, further comprising a management step of
managing a plurality piece of map data in
correspondence with the hierarchical location
information, the map data being used for displaying a
location of each device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
39 words
An information processing method according to
claim 32, wherein one piece of the plurality piece of
map data is map data for indicating that the
hierarchical location information corresponding to the
searched device is not registered in the database.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
44 words
An information processing method according to
claim 32, wherein the database further registers
coordinate information of each of a plurality of
devices, the coordinate information representing a
position in an area of the map data and being output
when the search result is output.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
100 words
An information processing method connected to
a network, comprising: an input step of inputting a search condition for
searching a device on the network; a request step of transmitting a search request
with the input search condition to a search apparatus
on the network; a reception step of receiving a search result
corresponding to the search request, the search result
including hierarchical location information
representing a location of the searched device in a
hierarchical data structure; and a control step of displaying location information
of the searched device in accordance with the
hierarchical location information included in the
search result.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
62 words
An information processing method according to
claim 35, further comprising: a storage step of storing at least one piece of
the map data corresponding to a predetermined
hierarchical level of the hierarchical location
information, wherein said control step displays the
location information of the searched device in
accordance with the hierarchical location information
included in the search result and corresponding map
data.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
57 words
An information processing method according to
claim 36, further comprising: a storage step of storing a plurality piece of
icon data representative of devices, wherein said
control step displays the icon data corresponding to
the searched device, the icon data being superposed
upon the map data corresponding to the hierarchical
location information included in the search result.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
56 words
An information processing method according to
claim 35, wherein said reception means further receives
the map data corresponding to the hierarchical location
information of the searched device, and said control
means displays the location information of the searched
device in accordance with the hierarchical location
data included in the searched result and the received
map data.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
54 words
An information processing method according to
claim 38, wherein said reception step further receives
the icon data representative of the searched device,
and said control step displays the icon data
corresponding to the searched device, the icon data
being superposed upon the map data corresponding to the
hierarchical location information of the searched
device.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
75 words
An information processing method according to
claim 39, wherein said reception step further receives
coordinate information of the searched device, the
coordinate information representing a position in an
area of the map data, and said control step displays
the icon data corresponding to the searched device in
accordance with the coordinate information of the
searched device, the icon data being superposed upon
the map data corresponding to the hierarchical location
information of the searched device.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
93 words
A control method for a device for processing
a job requested via a network, comprising: a storage step of storing attribute information
including: at least one piece of static attribute
information representative of a performance of the
device; and hierarchical location information
indicating a location of the device in a hierarchical
data structure, the hierarchical location information
including a plurality piece of hierarchical data
logically discriminated; and a control step of transmitting the static
attribute information and the hierarchical location
information stored at said storage step to the network
to search the device.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 41, wherein said
control step registers the static attribute information
and the hierarchical location information stored at
said storage step, in a directory server on the
network.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
137 words
A device search method for a network system
having at least first and second information processing
apparatuses, comprising: in the first information processing apparatus, a management step of managing a database
registering a plurality piece of attribute information
corresponding to each device on the network, the
attribute information registered in the database having
hierarchical location information representing a
location of each device on the network in a
hierarchical data structure; a search step of searching a device satisfying a
search condition from the database in response to a
reception of the search condition from the second
information processing apparatus, the search condition
including at least one piece of the attribute
information; and a generation step of generating a search result
for notifying the searched device, the search result
including the hierarchical location information of the
searched device.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
140 words
A device search method for a network system
having at least a first information processing
apparatus for managing a directory information base, a
second information processing apparatus, and a
plurality of devices, comprising: in the first information processing apparatus, a registration step of registering attribute
information of each of a plurality of devices in the
directory information base, the attribute information
comprising: at least one piece of static attribute
information representative of a performance of each
device; and hierarchical location information
indicating a location of each device in a hierarchical
data structure, the hierarchical location information
including a plurality piece of hierarchical data
logically discriminated; and in the second information processing apparatus, a search step of searching the directory
information base by the first information processing
apparatus in accordance with a search condition
supplied from the second information processing
apparatus.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
68 words
A device search method according to claim 44,
further comprising: in the device, a storage step of storing the static attribute
information and hierarchical location information; and a control step of transmitting the static
attribute information and hierarchical location
information to the first information processing
apparatus and requesting the first information
processing apparatus to register the static attribute
information and hierarchical location information in
the directory information base.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
105 words
A device search method for a network system
having a plurality of devices, comprising: an input step of inputting a search condition for
searching a device on the network; a request step of transmitting a search request
with the input search condition to a search apparatus
on the network; a reception step of receiving a search result
corresponding to the search request, the search result
including hierarchical location information
representing a location of the searched device in a
hierarchical data structure; and a control step of displaying location information
of the searched device in accordance with the
hierarchical location information included in the
search result.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
90 words
A device search method according to claim 45,
further comprising in the device: a storage step of storing attribute information
including: at least one piece of static attribute
information representative of a performance of the
device; and hierarchical location information
indicating a location of the device in a hierarchical
data structure, the hierarchical location information
including a plurality piece of hierarchical data
logically discriminated; and a control step of transmitting the static
attribute information and hierarchical location
information stored at said storage step to the network
to search the device.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
135 words
A device search method for a network system
having at least one information processing apparatus
and a plurality of devices, comprising: in the information processing apparatus, a transmission step of transmitting a signal for
searching a device on the network to the network, and in the device, a storage step of storing attribute information
including: at least one piece of static attribute
information representative of a performance of the
device; and hierarchical location information
indicating a location of the device in a hierarchical
data structure, the hierarchical location information
including a plurality piece of hierarchical data
logically discriminated; and a control step of transmitting a signal including
the static attribute information and hierarchical
location information stored at said storage step to the
network to search the device at another information
processing apparatus on the network.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
155 words
A storage medium storing a computer program
to be executed by a computer of an information
processing apparatus for searching a device on a
network, the computer program comprising: a management step of managing a database
registering a plurality piece of attribute information
corresponding to each device on the network, the
attribute information registered in the database having
hierarchical location information representing a
location of each device on the network in a
hierarchical data structure; a search step of searching a device satisfying a
search condition from the database in response to a
reception of the search condition from another
information processing apparatus, the search condition
including at least one piece of the attribute
information; a generation step of generating a search result
for notifying the searched device, the search result
including the hierarchical location information of the
searched device; and a transmission step of transmitting the search
result to the other information processing apparatus.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
114 words
A storage medium storing a computer program
to be executed by a computer of an information
processing apparatus using a database registering
attribute information of a device on a network, the
computer program comprising: a registration step of registering attribute
information of each of a plurality of devices, the
attribute information comprising: at least one piece of
static attribute information representative of a
performance of each device; and hierarchical location
information indicating a location of each device in a
hierarchical data structure, the hierarchical location
information including a plurality piece of hierarchical
data logically discriminated; and a search step of searching a device satisfying a
search condition including the attribute information
from the database.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
111 words
A storage medium storing an information
processing program for searching a device on a network,
the information processing program comprising: an input step of inputting a search condition for
searching a device on the network; a request step of transmitting a search request
with the input search condition to a search apparatus
on the network; a reception step of receiving a search result
corresponding to the search request, the search result
including hierarchical location information
representing a location of the searched device in a
hierarchical data structure; and a control step of displaying location information
of the searched device in accordance with the
hierarchical location information included in the
search result.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
103 words
A storage medium storing a computer program
to be executed by a device for processing a job
requested via a network, the computer program
comprising: a storage step of storing attribute information
including: at least one piece of static attribute
information representative of a performance of the
device; and hierarchical location information
indicating a location of the device in a hierarchical
data structure, the hierarchical location information
including a plurality piece of hierarchical data
logically discriminated; and a control step of transmitting the static
attribute information and the hierarchical location
information stored at said storage step to the network
to search the device.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
17 words
A network management device storing searchable
device availability data including location data for
display in map form.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer program comprising processor
implementable instructions for controlling a processor to
carry out the method of any one of claims 25 to 48.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electrical signal carrying processor
implementable instructions for controlling a processor to
carry out the method of any one of claims 25 to 48.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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