Data processing apparatus and data processing method for controlling plural peripheral devices to provide function
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorHaruo Machida
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plural peripheral devices are controlled by an operation on icons to provide a user with a function implemented by the peripheral devices. Furthermore, optimal parameters concerning function are determined based on information about the peripheral devices.
Claims57
A data processing apparatus capable of performing data communication with various peripheral devices connected on a predetermined communication medium, comprising:
- obtaining means for obtaining, via the predetermined communication medium, present peripheral device information including connection information and status information about the peripheral devices;
- system display means for displaying a system configuration on a display with icons based on the present peripheral device information obtained by said obtaining means via the predetermined communication medium;
- designation means for designating a combination of any of the icons displayed on the display based on the obtained present peripheral device information;
- setup screen display means for displaying on the display a setup screen for the combined functions based on the combination designated by said designation means if the combined functions are determined to be valid;
- and
- control means for controlling the peripheral devices designated by said designation means in order to execute the combined functions in response to an execution instruction,
- wherein said control means further controls the peripheral devices based on a parameter input in the setup screen displayed by said setup screen display means.
A data processing method in a data processing apparatus capable of performing data communication with various peripheral devices connected to a predetermined communication medium, comprising the steps of:
- obtaining, via the predetermined communication medium, present peripheral device information including connection information and status information about the peripheral devices;
- displaying a system configuration on a display with icons based on the present peripheral device information obtained in said obtaining step via the predetermined communication medium;
- designating a combination of any of the icons displayed on in display based on the obtained present peripheral device information;
- displaying on the display a setup screen for the combined functions based on the combination designated in said designation step if the combined functions are determined to be valid;
- and
- controlling the peripheral devices designated in said designation step in order to execute the combined functions in response to an execution instruction,
- wherein said control step includes controlling the peripheral devices based on a parameter input in the setup screen displayed in said setup screen display step.
A computer-readable memory medium which stores a program for a data processing apparatus capable of performing data communication with various peripheral devices connected to a predetermined communication medium, the program comprising the steps of:
- code for obtaining, via the predetermined communication medium present peripheral device information including connection information and status information about the peripheral devices;
- code for displaying a system configuration on a display with icons based on the present peripheral device information obtained in said obtaining step via the predetermined communication medium;
- code for designating a combination of any of the icons displayed on the display via the predetermined communication medium;
- code for displaying on the display a setup screen for the combined functions based on the combination designated in said designation step if the combined functions are determined to be valid;
- and
- code for controlling the peripheral devices designated in said designation step in order to execute the combined functions in response to an execution instruction,
- wherein said code for controlling controls the peripheral devices based on a parameter input in the setup screen displayed in said setup screen display step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.