Print system, printing method, and printer

A local router relaying method comprising:

• responding to a communications message which is received from a communications network and is addressed to the router at any one of a plurality of predetermined IP addresses of the router;
• and
• selecting a destination of data included in the communications message in response to an IP address included in the communications message addressed to any one of the plurality of IP addresses,
• wherein one of the destinations is a network-incompatible device not directly connectable to the communications network.

A network printer which can connect to a communications network, comprising:

• network communications means which have a plurality of IP addresses representing a plurality of locations on the network and which respond to a communications message received from the network and addressed to any one of the plurality of network addresses;
• data transfer means which can transfer to a plurality of destinations the data included in the communications message addressed to any one of the plurality of IP addresses and which determines whether to transfer the data to the destination according to the IP address of the communications message;
• print means which processes and prints the data as at least one destination of the plurality of destinations;
• and
• connection means for connecting the printer to a network-incompatible device as at least one of the plurality of destinations, wherein the network-incompatible device cannot be connected directly to the communications network.

A computer readable program recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program used when a computer executes a local router relaying method, the program comprising:

• responding to a communications message which is received from a communications network and is addressed to the router at any one of a plurality of predetermined IP addresses of the router;
• and
• selecting a destination of the data included in the communications message in response to an IP address included in the communications message addressed to any one of the plurality of IP addresses;
• wherein one of the destinations is a network-incompatible device not directly connectable to the communications network.

A computer readable program recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program used when a computer implements a network printer which can connect to a communications network, the printer comprising:

• network communications means which have a plurality of IP addresses representing a plurality of locations on the network and which responds to a communications message received from the network and addressed to any one of the plurality of IP addresses;
• data transfer means which can transfer to a plurality of destinations the data included in the communications message addressed to any one of the plurality of IP addresses and which determines whether to transfer the data to the destination according to the IP address of the communications message;
• print means which processes and prints the data as at least one destination of the plurality of destinations;
• and
• connection means for connecting the printer to a network-incompatible device as at least one of the plurality of destinations, wherein the network-incompatible device cannot be connected directly to the communications network.

A local router adapted to make accessible to a network one or more connected printers, comprising:

• network communications means for connecting to an IP-addressed communications network, and for receiving communications messages addressed to any of a predetermined set of different network addresses;
• printer selection means for making a selection of one of said one or more connected printers based on the network address in a received one of said communication messages;
• and
• data transfer means for transferring data from said received one of said communication messages to said selected one of said one or more connected printers over a respective printer interface;
• wherein said respective printer interface is not an IP-addressed connection.

A relaying method for a local router for making accessible to a network one or more connected printers, comprising:

• receiving IP-addressed communications messages addressed to any of a predetermined plurality of different network addresses;
• making a selection of one of said one or more connected printers based on the network address in a received one of said communication messages;
• and
• transferring data from said received one of said communication messages to said selected one of said one or more connected printers over a respective printer interface;
• wherein said respective printer interface is not an IP-addressed connection.

A network printing system, comprising:

• a network printer connected to an IP-addressed communications network;
• one or more other devices in communication with said network printer but not connected to said communications network;
• said network printer and said one or more other devices defining a device group;
• said device group having respective addresses for said network printer and each of said one or more other devices, defining a predetermined set of addresses;
• said network printer accepting any communication message with a message address header indicating one of said predetermined set of addresses;
• when said message address header indicates one of said one or more devices, said network printer selectively relaying data from said accepted communication message to said indicated one of said one or more other devices;
• and
• when said message address header indicates said network printer, said network printer processing said data from said accepted communication message.

A computer readable program recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program used when a computer executes a local router relaying method, the program comprising:

• a step for receiving IP-addressed communications messages addressed to any of a predetermined plurality of different network addresses;
• a step for making a selection of one of said one or more connected printers based on the network address in a received one of said communication messages;
• and
• a step for transferring data from said received one of said communication messages to said selected one of said one or more connected printers over a respective printer interface;
• wherein said respective printer interface is not an IP-addressed connection.