# US 7,412,498 B2 · Data processing apparatus, data processing method, and storage medium storing computer-readable program

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- Number: US 7,412,498 B2
- Document ID: US7412498B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/767,626
- Filed: 2004-01-30
- Published: 2004-10-14
- Granted: 2008-08-12
- Earliest claimed: 1999-04-30
- Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Haruo Machida
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7412498B2

## CPC

- H04L 43/00: Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
- H04L 43/045: for graphical visualisation of monitoring data
- H04L 43/065: related to network devices
- H04L 43/0817: by checking functioning
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

In order to easily verify the details including a use state of devices of a network each time function processing is to be executed, a CPU sequentially acquires log information of each function of each device notified from another PC, when each device is to be operated in accordance with the function set by the other PC, and sequentially stores the log information of each acquired function and manages the stored log information. In response to a request for the log information of each function from the other PC, the corresponding log information among the managed log information is notified to the other PC via the network.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An information processing apparatus comprising:
display means for displaying a first device and a second device;
indication means for indicating the first device and the second device displayed by said display means so as to execute a combined image formation process by the indicated first and second devices;
specifying means for specifying an image formation process to be executed by a set of the first device and the second device indicated by said indication means; and
obtaining means for obtaining log information showing the number of executions of the image formation process specified by said specifying means.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
said display means displays the first device and the second device by using icons, and
said obtaining means obtains the log information in response to that said indication means selects and indicates the first device and the second device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in said indication means the first device and the second device are selected by executing a drag-and-drop process to the displayed icon.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first device is an image output device, the second device is an image input device, and the image formation process specified by said specifying means is an image copying process.

### Claim 5

An information processing method comprising:
a display step of displaying a first device and a second device;
an indication step of indicating the first device and the second device displayed in said display step so as to execute a combined image formation process by the indicated first and second devices;
a specifying step of specifying an image formation process to be executed by a set of the first device and the second device indicated in said indication step; and
an obtaining step of obtaining log information showing the number of executions of the image formation process specified in said specifying step.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A method according to claim 5, wherein
in said display step, the first device and the second device are displayed by using icons, and
in said obtaining step, the log information is obtained in response to that the first device and the second device are selected and indicated in said indication step.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A method according to claim 6, wherein in said indication step the first device and the second device are selected by executing a drag-and-drop process to the displayed icon.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

A method according to claim 5, wherein the first device is an image output device, the second device is an image input device, and the image formation process specified in said specifying step is an image copying process.

### Claim 9

A computer-readable storage medium which stores a program to execute an information processing method comprising:
a display step of displaying a first device and a second device;
an indication step of indicating the first device and the second device displayed in said display step so as to execute a combined image formation process by the indicated first and second devices;
a specifying step of specifying an image formation process to be executed by a set of the first device and the second device indicated in said indication step; and
an obtaining step of obtaining log information showing the number of executions of the image formation process specified in said specifying step.