A server device that manages a state of a shared device, and method of controlling same
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorMASASHI KUROSHIMA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is provided a terminal device with which a shared unit shared with the other terminal device on a network is connected, characterized in that the terminal device comprises a transmitting/receiving section for receiving information sent from the other terminal device with respect to the shared unit, and a control section for allowing the other terminal device a right to use the shared unit based on the information sent from the other terminal device and received by the transmitting/receiving section, and for releasing a state having the right to use the shared unit, if the information sent from the other terminal device is indicative of a given instruction.
Claims12
A terminal device with which a shared unit shared with the other terminal device on a network is connected, said terminal device comprising:
- (a) transmitting/receiving means for receiving information sent from the other terminal device with respect to said shared unit;
- and
- (b) control means for allowing the other terminal device a right to use said shared unit based on the information sent from the other terminal device and received by said transmitting/receiving means, and for releasing a state having the right to use said shared unit, if the information sent from the other terminal device is indicative of a given instruction.
A communication system in which a shared unit having a predetermined function can be shared with respective terminal devices, said communication system comprising:
- (a) a first terminal device with which said shared unit is connected;
- and
- (b) a terminal device using said shared unit, said terminal device including input means for inputting information on said shared unit, and transmitting/receiving means for transmitting the input information inputted by said input means to said first terminal device.
A recording medium storing program steps readable from a computer in a system including a plurality of terminal devices capable of being communicated with one another and a unit having a predetermined function, said steps is for sharing said unit with said respective terminal devices,
- said process steps comprising:
- a first step of sending out information on said shared unit by a terminal device that uses said shared unit;
- a second step of allowing said terminal device that sent out the information a right to use said shared unit based on the information sent out in said first step, and of bring said shared unit to operate;
- and
- a third step of releasing a state having a right to use said shared unit, if the information sent out in said first step is indicative of a given instruction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.