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US 6,246,487 B1Granted
Multi-function unit, server and network system having multi-function unit
AssigneeFujitsu Limited
InventorsSumitake Kobayashi, Keiji Ishiguro, Ken Murata, Takashi Kawasaki, Tatsuru Miyata, Shigeo Ichikawa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-function unit includes a printer engine, a logical copying machine carrying out a copying process with respect to a recording medium by the printer engine, and a plurality of logical printers carrying out printing processes with respect to the recording medium by the printer engine. The logical copying machine and the logical printers carry out apparent parallel operations.
Claims30
A multi-function unit, comprising:
- a printer engine;
- a logical copying machine carrying out a copying process with respect to a recording medium by said printer engine;
- a plurality of logical printers carrying out printing processes with respect to the recording medium by said printer engine independently of the copying process of said logical copying machine;
- and
- a multi-bin stacker having a plurality of bin stackers, each of the bin stackers corresponding to either said logical copying machine or to one of said logical printers such that each bin stacker is used exclusively by said logical copying machine or one of said logical printers, thereby carrying out apparent parallel operations on said logical copying machine and said logical printers.
2 more elements
A network system, comprising:
- at least one computer;
- at least one multi-function unit comprising:
- a printer engine,
- a logical copying machine carrying out a copying process with respect to a recording medium by said printer engine,
- a plurality of logical printers carrying out printing processes with respect to the recording medium by said printer engine independently of the copying process of said logical copying machine, and
- a multi-bin stacker having a plurality of bin stackers, each of the bin stackers corresponding to either said logical copying machine or to one of said logical printers such that each bin stacker is used exclusively by said logical copying machine or one of said logical printers, thereby carrying out apparent parallel operations on said logical copying machine and said logical printers;
- and
- one or more networks coupling said computer and said multi-function unit.
5 more elements
A network system, comprising:
- at least one computer;
- at least one multi-function unit comprising:
- a printer engine,
- a logical copying machine carrying out a copying process with respect to a recording medium by said printer engine,
- a plurality of logical printers carrying out printing processes with respect to the recording medium by said printer engine independently of the copying process of said logical copying machine, and
- a multi-bin stacker having a plurality of bin stackers, each of the bin stackers corresponding to either said logical copying machine or to one of said logical printers such that each bin stacker is used exclusively by said logical copying machine or one of said logical printers, thereby carrying out apparent parallel operations on said logical copying machine and said logical printers;
- and
- one or more networks coupling said computer and said multi-function unit,
- wherein said networks comprise first, second and third networks, at least one multi-function unit and at least one server being coupled to said first network, at least one multi-function unit and at least one server being coupled to said second network, said first network and said second network being coupled via said third network.
6 more elements
A network system, comprising:
- at least one computer;
- at least one multi-function unit comprising:
- a printer engine,
- a logical copying machine carrying out a copying process with respect to a recording medium by said printer engine,
- a plurality of logical printers carrying out printing processes with respect to the recording medium by said printer engine independently of the copying process of said logical copying machine,
- a multi-bin stacker having a plurality of bin stackers, each of the bin stackers corresponding to either said logical copying machine or to one of said logical printers such that each bin stacker is used exclusively by said logical copying machine or one of said logical printers, thereby carrying out apparent parallel operations on said logical copying machine and said logical printers;
- and
- one or more networks coupling said computer and said multi-function unit;
- and
- a server coupled to said multi-function unit according to a protocol and controlling said multi-function unit, said server comprising:
- a print processor having a spool part in which print data are queued, and transferring the print data queued in the spool part to said multi-function unit according to a print protocol, and
- a routing information processor having a routing list which stores at least an address of said multi-function unit or another server coupled to the network,
- wherein a transmitting destination of the print data being specified by accessing the routing list.
10 more elements
A network system, comprising:
- at least one computer;
- at least one multi-function unit comprising:
- a printer engine,
- a logical copying machine carrying out a copying process with respect to a recording medium by said printer engine,
- a plurality of logical printers carrying out printing processes with respect to the recording medium by said printer engine independently of the copying process of said logical copying machine,
- a multi-bin stacker having a plurality of bin stackers, each of the bin stackers corresponding to either said logical copying machine or to one of said logical printers such that each bin stacker is used exclusively by said logical copying machine or one of said logical printers, thereby carrying out apparent parallel operations on said logical copying machine and said logical printers;
- and
- one or more networks coupling said computer and said multi-function unit;
- and
- a server coupled to said multi-function unit according to a protocol and controlling said multi-function unit, said server comprising:
- a filing processor having a folder which stores image data read from a document by said multi-function unit, and carrying out a document registration process by controlling input and output of the image data with respect to the folder, and
- a routing information processor having a routing list which stores at least an address of said multi-function unit or another server coupled to the network,
- wherein a transmitting destination of the print data being specified by accessing the routing list.
10 more elements
A network system, comprising:
- at least one computer;
- at least one multi-function unit comprising:
- a printer engine,
- a logical copying machine carrying out a copying process with respect to a recording medium by said printer engine,
- a plurality of logical printers carrying out printing processes with respect to the recording medium by said printer engine independently of the copying process of said logical copping machine,
- a multi-bin stacker having a plurality of bin stackers, each of the bin stackers corresponding to either said logical copying machine or to one of said logical printers such that each bin stacker is used exclusively by said logical copying machine or one of said logical printers, thereby carrying out apparent parallel operations on said logical copying machine and said logical printers;
- and
- one or more networks coupling said computer and said multi-function unit;
- and
- a server coupled to said multi-function unit according to a protocol and controlling said multi-function unit, said server comprising:
- a facsimile processor having a reception register and a transmission register which store image data, and controlling facsimile transmission and reception of the image data, and
- a routing information processor having a routing list which stores at least an address of said multi-function unit or another server coupled to the network,
- wherein said facsimile processor automatically retrieving and selecting a route having a minimum transmission cost by accessing the routing list.
10 more elements
A network system, comprising:
- at least one computer;
- at least one multi-function unit comprising:
- a printer engine,
- a logical copying machine carrying out a copying process with respect to a recording medium by said printer engine,
- a plurality of logical printers carrying out printing processes with respect to the recording medium by said printer engine independently of the copying process of said logical copying machine,
- a multi-bin stacker having a plurality of bin stackers, each of the bin stackers corresponding to either said logical copying machine or to one of said logical printers such that each bin stacker is used exclusively by said logical copying machine or one of said logical printers, thereby carrying out apparent parallel operations on said logical copying machine and said logical printers;
- and
- one or more networks coupling said computer and said multi-function unit;
- and
- a server coupled to said multi-function unit according to a protocol and controlling said multi-function unit, said server comprising:
- a facsimile processor having a reception register and a transmission register which store image data, and controlling facsimile transmission and reception of the image data, and
- a telephone directory processor having a telephone number list which stores telephone numbers, and controlling input and output of a telephone number used for a facsimile process,
- wherein said telephone directory processor generating a telephone directory to be displayed on an operation panel of said multi-function unit based on the telephone number list.
10 more elements
A network system, comprising:
- at least one computer;
- at least one multi-function unit comprising:
- a printer engine,
- a logical copying machine carrying out a copying process with respect to a recording medium by said printer engine,
- a plurality of logical printers carrying out printing processes with respect to the recording medium by said printer engine independently of the copying process of said logical copying machine,
- a multi-bin stacker having a plurality of bin stackers, each of the bin stackers corresponding to either said logical copying machine or to one of said logical printers such that each bin stacker is used exclusively by said logical copying machine or one of said logical printers, thereby carrying out apparent parallel operations on said logical copying machine and said logical printers;
- one or more networks coupling said computer and said multi-function unit;
- a directory provided by the network system;
- and
- a server coupled to said multi-function unit according to a protocol and controlling said multi-function unit, said server comprising:
- a routing information processor having a routing list which stores an address of each multi-function unit and each server coupled within the network system,
- wherein said routing information processor automatically generating the routing list by accessing said directory provided by the network system.
9 more elements
A multi-function unit, comprising:
- a logical copying machine performing a copying process;
- and
- a plurality of logical printers performing printing processes independently of said logical copying machine, such that said logical copying machine and said logical printers operate in parallel.
A method for performing multiple functions using a multi-function unit, comprising:
- performing, by a logical copying machine, a copying process;
- and
- performing, by a plurality of logical printers, printing processes independently of said logical copying machine, such that said logical copying machine and said logical printers operate in parallel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.