Control of information processing using one or more peripheral apparatus

Claim 2

A peripheral processing apparatus connected to an information processing apparatus through a network, comprising: storage means storing a control program which the information processing apparatus uses to control said peripheral processing apparatus; reception means for receiving a transfer request from the information processing apparatus requesting that the control program stored in said storage means be transferred to the information processing apparatus through the network; securing means for securing a channel to the information processing apparatus through the network on the basis of the transfer request received by said reception means; and transfer means for transferring the control program stored in said storage means through the channel secured by said securing means on the network to the information processing apparatus in response to the transfer request received by said reception means, so as to allow the information processing apparatus to use the control program to generate control data for controlling said peripheral processing apparatus, which control data is subsequently to be transferred to said peripheral processing apparatus through the network.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control program comprises a printer driver for the peripheral processing apparatus which is interpreted and executed by the information processing apparatus.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transfer means executes transfer at a timing based upon reset operation of the peripheral processing apparatus.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transfer means executes transfer at a timing based upon detection of a state in which the peripheral processing apparatus is unable to execute its processing.

Claim 6

A peripheral processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reception means receives the control data from the information processing apparatus generated by the information processing apparatus using the transferred control program, and said peripheral processing apparatus further comprising control means for executing a control processing according to the control data received by said reception means.

Claim 7

A peripheral processing apparatus connected to an information processing apparatus through a network, comprising: storage means storing a control program; reception means for receiving a transfer request from the information processing apparatus requesting that the control program stored in said storage means be transferred to the information processing apparatus through the network; transfer means for transferring the control program stored in said storage means through the network to the information processing apparatus in response to the transfer request received by said reception means, so as to allow the information processing apparatus to use the control program to generate control data for controlling said peripheral processing apparatus, which control data is subsequently to be transferred to said peripheral processing apparatus through the network; unique information storage means for storing information unique to said peripheral processing apparatus; and control means for controlling said transfer means to transfer the unique information stored in said unique information storage means through the network to the information processing apparatus in response to said reception means receiving a transfer request from the information processing apparatus requesting that the unique information be transferred to the information processing apparatus.

Claim 8

A peripheral processing apparatus connected to an information processing apparatus through a network, comprising: storage means storing a control program; reception means for receiving a transfer request from the information processing apparatus requesting that the control program stored in said storage means be transferred to the information processing apparatus through the network; transfer means for transferring the control program stored in said storage means through the network to the information processing apparatus in response to the transfer request received by said reception means, so as to allow the information processing apparatus to use the control program to generate control data for controlling said peripheral processing apparatus, which control data is subsequently to be transferred to said peripheral processing apparatus through the network; unique information storage means for storing information unique to said peripheral processing apparatus; and control means for controlling said transfer means to transfer the unique information stored in said unique information storage means through the network to the information processing apparatus in response to said reception means receiving a transfer request from the information processing apparatus requesting that the unique information be transferred to the information processing apparatus.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control program comprises a printer driver for the peripheral processing apparatus which is interpreted and executed by the information processing apparatus.

Claim 10

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the peripheral processing apparatus is a printer for forming images.

Claim 11

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the peripheral processing apparatus is a copy machine.

Claim 12

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said transfer means executes transfer at a timing based upon reset operation of the peripheral processing apparatus.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said transfer means executes transfer at a timing based upon detection of a state in which the peripheral processing apparatus is unable to execute its processing.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the unique information describes each location of the peripheral processing apparatus.

Claim 15

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the unique information describes execution speed of the peripheral processing apparatus.

Claim 16

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the unique information describes running cost of each of the peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 17

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the unique information describes power consumption of each of the peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 18

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the unique information describes a trouble rate of each of the peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 19

An information processing apparatus connected to a peripheral processing apparatus through a network, comprising: request means for requesting the peripheral processing apparatus to transfer a control program for controlling the peripheral processing apparatus to said information processing apparatus through the network; reception means for receiving the control program transferred from the peripheral processing apparatus through the network in response to a request provided by said request means; building means for placing the control program received by said reception means under the control of an operating system and building the received control program in the operating system; and generation and transfer means for generating control data for controlling the peripheral processing apparatus using the control program built in the operating system by said building means and transferring the control data through the network to the peripheral processing apparatus.

Claim 20

An information processing apparatus connected to a peripheral processing apparatus through a network, comprising: request means for requesting the peripheral processing apparatus to transfer a control program for controlling the peripheral processing apparatus to said information processing apparatus through the network; reception means for receiving the control program transferred from the peripheral processing apparatus through the network in response to a request provided by said request means; building means for placing the control program received by said reception means under the control of an operating system and building the received control program in the operating system; and generation and transfer means for generating control data for controlling the peripheral processing apparatus using the control program built in the operating system by said building means and transferring the control data through the network to the peripheral processing apparatus.

Claim 21

An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the control program comprises a printer driver for the peripheral processing apparatus which is interpreted and executed by said information processing apparatus.

Claim 22

An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said reception means receives the control program from the peripheral processing apparatus through the network at timing based upon reset operation of the peripheral processing apparatus.

Claim 23

An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said reception means receives the control program from the peripheral processing apparatus through the network at timing based upon reset operation of the information processing apparatus.

Claim 24

An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said reception means receives the control program from the peripheral processing apparatus through the network at a timing based upon detection of a state in which the peripheral processing apparatus is unable to execute its processing.

Claim 25

An information processing apparatus connected to a peripheral processing apparatus through a network, comprising: request means for requesting the peripheral processing apparatus to transfer a control program for controlling the peripheral processing apparatus to said information processing apparatus through the network; reception means for receiving the control program transferred from the peripheral processing apparatus through the network in response to a request provided by said request means; storage means for storing the control program received by said reception means; and generation and transfer means for generating control data for controlling the peripheral processing apparatus using the control program stored in said storage means and transferring the control data through the network to the peripheral processing apparatus; wherein said apparatus is connected to a plurality of the peripheral processing apparatuses through the network, wherein said request means requests each of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses to transfer information unique to the peripheral processing apparatus to said information processing apparatus through the network, and wherein said reception means receives the unique information transferred from each of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses through the network in response to a request provided by said request means, and said information processing apparatus further comprising: second storage means for storing the unique information received by said reception means; and selection means for selecting one of the plurality of peripheral apparatuses based on the unique information stored in said second storage means, wherein said generation and transfer means generates control data for controlling the one peripheral processing apparatus selected by said selection means based on the control program stored in said storage means and transfers the control data through the network to the selected one peripheral processing apparatus.

Claim 26

An information processing apparatus connected to a peripheral processing apparatus through a network, comprising: request means for requesting the peripheral processing apparatus to transfer a control program for controlling the peripheral processing apparatus to said information processing apparatus through the network; reception means for receiving the control program transferred from the peripheral processing apparatus through the network in response to a request provided by said request means; storage means for storing the control program received by said reception means; and generation and transfer means for generating control data for controlling the peripheral processing apparatus using the control program stored in said storage means and transferring the control data through the network to the peripheral processing apparatus; wherein said apparatus is connected to a plurality of the peripheral processing apparatuses through the network, wherein said request means requests each of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses to transfer information unique to the peripheral processing apparatus to said information processing apparatus through the network, and wherein said reception means receives the unique information transferred from each of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses through the network in response to a request provided by said request means, and said information processing apparatus further comprising: second storage means for storing the unique information received by said reception means; and selection means for selecting one of the plurality of peripheral apparatuses based on the unique information stored in said second storage means, wherein said generation and transfer means generates control data for controlling the one peripheral processing apparatus selected by said selection means based on the control program stored in said storage means and transfers the control data through the network to the selected one peripheral processing apparatus.

Claim 27

An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the control program comprises a printer driver for the peripheral processing apparatus which is interpreted and executed by said information processing apparatus.

Claim 28

An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein one said peripheral processing apparatus is a printer for forming images.

Claim 29

An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein one said peripheral processing apparatus is a copy machine.

Claim 30

An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein each said peripheral processing apparatus is a copy machine.

Claim 31

An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said reception means receives both the control program and the unique information from the peripheral processing apparatuses through the network at timing based upon reset operation of the peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 32

An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said reception means receives the unique information from the peripheral processing apparatuses through the network at a timing based upon detection of a state in which any of the peripheral processing apparatuses is unable to execute its processing.

Claim 33

An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein, when said reception means receives the unique information from the peripheral processing apparatuses through the network at a timing based upon detection of a state in which any of the peripheral processing apparatuses is unable to execute its processing, said selection means eliminates whichever of the peripheral processing apparatuses is in the inexecutable state, from possible apparatuses available to be selected.

Claim 34

An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the unique information describes execution speed of each of the peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 35

An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the unique information describes each location of the peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 36

An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the unique information describes running cost of each of the peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 37

An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the unique information describes power consumption of each of the peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 38

An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the unique information describes a trouble rate of each of the peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 41

A method according to claim 35, wherein the control program comprises a printer driver for the peripheral processing apparatus which is interpreted and executed by the information processing apparatus.

Claim 42

A method according to claim 35, wherein the peripheral processing apparatus is a printer for forming images.

Claim 43

A method according to claim 35, wherein the peripheral processing apparatus is a copy machine.

Claim 44

A method according to claim 35, wherein said transfer step is executed at a timing based upon reset operation of the peripheral processing apparatus.

Claim 45

A method according to claim 35, wherein said transfer step is executed at a timing based upon detection of a state in which the peripheral processing apparatus is unable to execute its processing.

Claim 46

A method according to claim 35, wherein said receiving step includes receiving the control data from the information processing apparatus generated by the information processing apparatus using the transferred control program, and said method further comprising the step of executing a control processing according to the control data received in said receiving step.

Claim 49

A method according to claim 42, wherein the control program comprises a printer driver for the peripheral processing apparatus which is interpreted and executed by the information processing apparatus.

Claim 50

A method according to claim 42, wherein the peripheral processing apparatus is a printer for forming images.

Claim 51

A method according to claim 42, wherein the peripheral processing apparatus is a copy machine.

Claim 52

A method according to claim 42, wherein said transfer step is executed at a timing based upon reset operation of the peripheral processing apparatus.

Claim 53

A method according to claim 42, wherein said transfer step is executed at a timing based upon detection of a state in which the peripheral processing apparatus is unable to execute its processing.

Claim 54

A method according to claim 42, wherein the unique information describes location of the peripheral processing apparatus.

Claim 55

A method according to claim 42, wherein the unique information describes execution speed of the peripheral processing apparatus.

Claim 56

A method according to claim 42, wherein the unique information describes running cost of the peripheral processing apparatus.

Claim 57

A method according to claim 42, wherein the unique information describes power consumption of the peripheral processing apparatus.

Claim 58

A method according to claim 42, wherein the unique information describes a trouble rate of the peripheral processing apparatus.

Claim 59

A control method for use in a peripheral processing apparatus connected to an information processing apparatus through a network, comprising the steps of: requesting the peripheral processing apparatus to transfer a control program for controlling the peripheral processing apparatus to the information processing apparatus through the network; receiving the control program transferred from the peripheral processing apparatus through the network for controlling the peripheral processing apparatus in response to a request provided in said requesting step; placing the received control program under the control of an operating system and building the received control program in the operating system; and generating control data for controlling the peripheral processing apparatus using the control program built in the operating system and transferring the control data through the network to the peripheral processing apparatus.

Claim 60

A control method for use in a peripheral processing apparatus connected to an information processing apparatus through a network, comprising the steps of: requesting the peripheral processing apparatus to transfer a control program for controlling the peripheral processing apparatus to the information processing apparatus through the network; receiving the control program transferred from the peripheral processing apparatus through the network for controlling the peripheral processing apparatus in response to a request provided in said requesting step; placing the received control program under the control of an operating system and building the received control program in the operating system; and generating control data for controlling the peripheral processing apparatus using the control program built in the operating system and transferring the control data through the network to the peripheral processing apparatus.

Claim 61

A method according to claim 53, wherein the control program comprises a printer driver for the peripheral processing apparatus which is interpreted and executed by the information processing apparatus.

Claim 62

A method according to claim 53, wherein the peripheral processing apparatus is a printer for forming images.

Claim 63

A method according to claim 53, wherein the peripheral processing apparatus is a copy machine.

Claim 64

A method according to claim 53, wherein said receiving step includes receiving the control program from the peripheral processing apparatus through the network at a timing based upon reset operation of the peripheral processing apparatus.

Claim 65

A method according to claim 53, wherein said receiving step includes receiving the control program from the peripheral processing apparatus through the network at a timing based upon detection of a state in which the peripheral processing apparatus is unable to execute its processing.

Claim 66

A control method for use in a peripheral processing apparatus connected to an information processing apparatus through a network, comprising the steps of: requesting the peripheral processing apparatus to transfer a control program for controlling the peripheral processing apparatus to the information processing apparatus through the network: receiving the control program transferred from the peripheral processing apparatus through the network for controlling the peripheral processing apparatus in response to a request provided in said requesting step; storing the received control program in a memory; generating control data for controlling the peripheral processing apparatus using the control program stored in said storing process and transferring the control data through the network to the peripheral processing apparatus; requesting each of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses to transfer information unique to the peripheral processing apparatus to the information processing apparatus through the network, in response to a request provided in said requesting step; storing the received unique information in a memory; and selecting one of the peripheral apparatuses based on the unique information stored in the memory, wherein said step of generating control data includes generating control data for controlling the one peripheral processing apparatus selected in said selecting step based on the stored control program and transferring the control data through the network to the selected one peripheral apparatus.

Claim 67

A control method for use in a peripheral processing apparatus connected to an information processing apparatus through a network, comprising the steps of: requesting the peripheral processing apparatus to transfer a control program for controlling the peripheral processing apparatus to the information processing apparatus through the network: receiving the control program transferred from the peripheral processing apparatus through the network for controlling the peripheral processing apparatus in response to a request provided in said requesting step; storing the received control program in a memory; generating control data for controlling the peripheral processing apparatus using the control program stored in said storing process and transferring the control data through the network to the peripheral processing apparatus; requesting each of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses to transfer information unique to the peripheral processing apparatus to the information processing apparatus through the network, in response to a request provided in said requesting step; storing the received unique information in a memory; and selecting one of the peripheral apparatuses based on the unique information stored in the memory, wherein said step of generating control data includes generating control data for controlling the one peripheral processing apparatus selected in said selecting step based on the stored control program and transferring the control data through the network to the selected one peripheral apparatus.

Claim 68

A method according to claim 59, wherein the control program comprises a printer driver for the peripheral processing apparatus which is interpreted and executed by the information processing apparatus.

Claim 69

A method according to claim 59, wherein the peripheral processing apparatus is a printer for forming images.

Claim 70

A method according to claim 59, wherein the peripheral processing apparatus is a copy machine.

Claim 71

A method according to claim 59, wherein said receiving step includes receiving both the control program and the unique information from the peripheral processing apparatuses through the network at a timing based upon reset operation of the peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 72

A method according to claim 59, wherein said receiving step includes receiving the unique information from the peripheral processing apparatuses through the network at a timing based upon detection of a state in which any of the peripheral processing apparatuses is unable to execute its processing.

Claim 73

A method according to claim 59, wherein, when said receiving step receives the unique information from the peripheral processing apparatuses through the network at a timing based upon detection of a state in which any of the peripheral processing apparatuses is unable to execute its processing, said selection process eliminates whichever of the peripheral processing apparatuses is in the inexecutable state, from possible apparatuses available to be selected.

Claim 74

A method according to claim 59, wherein the unique information describes location of each of the peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 75

A method according to claim 59, wherein the unique information describes execution speed of each of the peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 76

A method according to claim 59, wherein the unique information describes running cost of each of the peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 77

A method according to claim 59, wherein the unique information describes power consumption of each of the peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 78

A method according to claim 59, wherein the unique information describes a trouble rate of each of the peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 79

An information processing apparatus connected to a plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses through a network, comprising: reception means for receiving, from each of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses, information unique to the peripheral processing apparatus through the network; selection means for selecting one of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses which is to print data, on the basis of the unique information received by said reception means; memory means for storing a plurality of device drivers for controlling respective devices; and generation means for generating the data to be printed by the one peripheral processing apparatus selected by said selection means using one of the plurality of device drivers stored in said memory means corresponding to the selected peripheral processing apparatus.

Claim 80

An information processing apparatus connected to a plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses through a network, comprising: reception means for receiving, from each of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses, information unique to the peripheral processing apparatus through the network; selection means for selecting one of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses which is to print data, on the basis of the unique information received by said reception means; memory means for storing a plurality of device drivers for controlling respective devices; and generation means for generating the data to be printed by the one peripheral processing apparatus selected by said selection means using one of the plurality of device drivers stored in said memory means corresponding to the selected peripheral processing apparatus.

Claim 81

An information processing apparatus according to claim 71, further comprising guide means for designating priorities between the unique information of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses, wherein said selection means selects one of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses on the basis of the priorities designated by said guide means.

Claim 82

An information processing apparatus according to claim 72, wherein the unique information indicates locations of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 83

An information processing apparatus according to claim 72, wherein the unique information indicates execution speeds of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 84

An information processing apparatus according to claim 72, wherein the unique information indicates running costs of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 85

An information processing apparatus according to claim 72, wherein the unique information indicates consumption powers of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 86

An information processing apparatus according to claim 72, wherein the unique information indicates trouble rates of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 87

An information processing apparatus according to claim 71, wherein said reception means further receives from the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses respective device drivers.

Claim 90

An information processing method according to claim 79, further comprising designating priorities between the unique information of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses, wherein said selection step selects one of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses on the basis of the priorities designated by said designation.

Claim 91

An information processing method according to claim 80, wherein the unique information indicates locations of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 92

An information processing method according to claim 80, wherein the unique information indicates execution speeds of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 93

An information processing method according to claim 80, wherein the unique information indicates running costs of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 94

An information processing method according to claim 80, wherein the unique information indicates consumption powers of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 95

An information processing method according to claim 80, wherein the unique information indicates trouble rates of the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses.

Claim 96

An information processing method according to claim 80, wherein said reception step further receives from the plurality of peripheral processing apparatuses respective device drivers.