Seamless distributed job control between a multifunction peripheral and a host
AssigneeCompaq Computer Corporation
InventorsKevin J. Brusky, Montgomery C. McGraw, John C. Barker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for seamless distributed job control between a multifunction peripheral and a host. A host, such as a personal computer, is linked with one or more multifunction peripherals. Each multifunction peripheral has at least scanning and printing capability. However, the peripherals do not require extensive memory or processing capability, because the processing and storage of data is accomplished by the host. A user potentially may operate the peripheral through a peripheral interface or through a user interface of the host.
Claims13
A system for utilizing a host in controlling a peripheral task, comprising:
- a host having a processor, a memory and a communication interface;
- a multifunction peripheral unit having at least a scanner and a printer;
- and
- a communication link coupling the host and the peripheral to permit data to flow therebetween, such that data scanned by the scanner is stored in the host memory and the functionality of the peripheral scanner and the printer is controlled by the host processor in response to user input at the peripheral unit;
- the peripheral including a user Interface having a plurality of function input keys each operable to enable preset peripheral functions including a scan function and a printer function;
- actuation of a function input key at the peripheral being operable to cause the peripheral to output an alert signal to the processor, the processor being configured to query the peripheral for parameters related to the enabled peripheral function upon receipt of the alert signal, and wherein actuation of a function input key when the host in a reduced power mode is effective to cause the processor to switch the host to a power-on mode.
A method of distributing job control between a multi-function peripheral and a host to eliminate the need for a peripheral processor and a peripheral memory, comprising:
- setting scan parameters at a multi-function peripheral using a peripheral user interface at said peripheral;
- communicating a user input signal from the peripheral to a processor of a host unit to wake the host from a sleep power mode and to initiate a scanning function by the peripheral;
- scanning a desired image based on the scan parameters and under the control of the host processor;
- storing scan data of the desired image in a memory of the host unit;
- and
- processing the stored scan data under control of the host processor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.