Contention management apparatus and method
OwnerDellas G. Frederikseninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A contention management apparatus and method includes a network and more than one MFP connected to the network. A contention controller is connected to the network and through the network to the more than one MFP. The contention controller is configured to direct output from an MFP in contention to an idle MFP. In a preferred embodiment, contention controller includes a database of networked MFPs and a user priority list of MFPs for use when contention occurs.
Claims20
A contention management apparatus comprising:
- (a) a network;
- (b) more than one MFP connected to the network;
- and
- (c) a contention controller connected to the network and through the network to the more than one MFP, the contention controller configured to direct output from an MFP in contention to an idle MFP.
A contention management apparatus in a network of a plurality of MFPs, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) an intranet network;
- (b) the plurality of MFPs connected to the intranet network;
- and
- (c) a contention controller connected to the plurality of MFPs through a connection to the intranet network, the contention controller including a database of networked MFPs and a user priority list of MFPs for use when contention occurs, wherein the contention controller is configured to direct output from any MFP in contention to an idle MFP on the user priority list.
A system for managing contention between more than one MFP connected in a network, the system comprising a contention controller connected to the network, the contention controller configured to identify MFPs in contention and idle MFPs and to direct output to one or more idle MFPs when contention occurs.
A method for managing contention in MFPs comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a contention controller;
- (b) connecting said contention controller to a network;
- (c) connecting a plurality of MFPs to said network;
- (d) configuring said contention controller to identify MFPs connected to said network;
- (e) configuring said contention controller to identify MFPs in contention and idle MFPs;
- and
- (f) directing output of MFPs in contention to idle MFPs by means of said contention controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.