# US 8,570,577 B2 · Planning device

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,570,577 B2
- Document ID: US8570577B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/216,789
- Filed: 2011-08-24
- Published: 2012-03-01
- Granted: 2013-10-29
- Earliest claimed: 2010-08-26
- Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Kiyotaka Ohara
- Inventors: Kiyotaka Ohara
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8570577B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/1297: {Printer code translation, conversion, emulation, compression; Configuration of printer parameters}
- G06F 3/1204: {resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data}
- G06F 3/1206: {resulting in increased flexibility in input data format or job format or job type}
- G06F 3/1247: {by conversion to printer ready format}
- G06F 3/1275: {Print workflow management, e.g. defining or changing a workflow, cross publishing}
- G06F 3/1288: {in client-server-printer device configuration}
- G06F 3/1289: {in server-client-printer device configuration, e.g. the server does not see the printer}
- G06F 3/1292: {Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing}
- G06Q 10/06: Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
- G06F 3/126: {Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A planning device may store communication information related to whether or not two devices composing the combination are capable of directly communicating, decide a specific communication path using the communication information. The specific communication path may be a path capable of supplying print data acquired from target data in a storage device to the print device, generate procedure data for instructing one or more devices which are present on the specific communication path to perform one or more processes sequentially for realizing print of the target image and send the procedure data to a first device among the one or more devices. The first device may be a device that is to perform a process performed first among the one or more processes.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A planning device used in a system comprising a plurality of devices including a storage device for storing target data of a print target, a print device for performing a print of a target image represented by the target data, and the planning device for planning a procedure for causing the print device to perform the print of the target image, the planning device comprising:
a memory configured to store, for each combination of two devices among the plurality of devices, communication information related to whether or not the two devices composing the combination are capable of directly communicating;
a deciding unit configured to decide a specific communication path using the communication information in the memory, the specific communication path being a path capable of supplying print data acquired from the target data in the storage device to the print device, the print data having a data format which the print device is capable of interpreting;
a generating unit configured to generate procedure data for instructing one or more devices which are present on the specific communication path to perform one or more processes sequentially for realizing the print of the target image;
a sending unit configured to send the procedure data to a first device among the one or more devices, the first device being a device that is to perform a process performed first among the one or more processes;
a first confirming unit configured to confirm whether or not the planning device is capable of directly communicating with each device in a first type of device group among the plurality of devices by sending a specific signal to the each device in the first type of device group and monitoring to receive a response signal;
an acquiring unit configured to acquire, from each of one or more first type of devices among the first type of device group, information related to whether or not the first type of device and a different device are capable of directly communicating, the one or more first type of devices being devices that have been confirmed as capable of directly communicating with the planning device; and
a storage controlling unit configured to cause the memory to store the communication information using a result of the confirmation performed by the confirming unit and the information acquired by the acquiring unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The planning device as in claim 1, wherein
the plurality of devices further includes a converting device for generating the print data by performing a converting process on the target data,
the deciding unit decides the specific communication path such that the converting device is present on the specific communication path, and
the generating unit generates the procedure data such that the converting process is performed by the converting device and the print data generated by the converting process is supplied to the print device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The planning device as in claim 2, further comprising:
a determining unit configured to determine whether or not a data format of the target data is a data format which the print device is capable of interpreting, and
in a first case where it is determined that the data format of the target data is not the data format which the print device is capable of interpreting,
the deciding unit decides the specific communication path such that the converting device is present on the specific communication path, and
the generating unit generates the procedure data such that the converting process is performed by the converting device and the print data generated by the converting process is supplied to the print device, and
in a second case where it is determined that the data format of the target data is the data format which the print device is capable of interpreting,
the deciding unit decides the specific communication path such that the converting device is not present on the specific communication path, and
the generating unit generates the procedure data such that the print data identical with the target data is supplied to the print device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The planning device as in claim 2, further comprising:
a first acquiring unit configured to acquire first information and second information from a second device among the plurality of devices, the second device being capable of communicating directly with the planning device,
wherein the first information includes information indicating whether or not the second device is capable of performing the converting process,
the second information includes information indicating whether or not a third device among the plurality of devices is capable of performing the converting process, the third device being capable of directly communicating with the second device, and
the deciding unit specifies the converting device that is to perform the converting process on the target data based on the first and the second information acquired by the first acquiring unit, and decides the specific communication path such that the specified converting device is present on the specific communication path.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The planning device as in claim 1, wherein,
the first type of device group includes the print device specified by location information of the print device designated by a user, and
in a case where it is confirmed that the planning device is capable of directly communicating with the print device, the acquiring unit acquires, from the print device, information related to whether or not the print device and the storage device for storing the target data specified by location information of the target data designated by the user are capable of directly communicating by inquiring to the print device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The planning device as in claim 1, wherein,
the first type of device group includes the storage device for storing the target data specified by location information of the target data designated by a user,
in a case where it is confirmed that the planning device is capable of directly communicating with the storage device, the acquiring unit acquires, from the storage device, information related to whether or not the storage device and the print device specified by location information of the print device designated by the user are capable of directly communicating by inquiring to the storage device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The planning device as in claim 1, further comprising:
a second confirming unit configured to confirm whether or not the target data is actually present at location information of the target data designated by a user,
wherein the deciding unit decides the specific communication path in a case where it is confirmed that the target data is actually present.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The planning device as in claim 1, further comprising:
a specific process performing unit configured to perform a specific process instructed by the procedure data and send the procedure data to a fourth device among the plurality of devices, the fourth device being a device that is to perform a process next to the specific process.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The planning device as in claim 1, wherein
the deciding unit is configured to decide the specific communication path such that a number of communications of the target data and the print data between the plurality of devices is at a minimum.

### Claim 10

A computer readable recording device including a computer program for a planning device used in a system comprising a plurality of devices including a storage device for storing target data of a print target, a print device for performing a print of a target image represented by the target data and the planning device for planning a procedure for causing the print device to perform the print of the target image,
the computer program including instructions for ordering the planning device to perform:
storing in a memory, for each combination of two devices among the plurality of devices, communication information related to whether or not the two devices composing the combination are capable of directly communicating;
deciding a specific communication path using the communication information in the memory, the specific communication path being a path capable of supplying print data acquired from the target data in the storage device, the print data having a data format which the print device is capable of interpreting;
generating procedure data for instructing one or more devices which are present on the specific communication path to perform one or more processes sequentially for realizing the print of the target image;
sending the procedure data to a first device among the one or more devices, the first device being a device that is to perform a process performed first among the one or more processes;
confirming whether or not the planning device is capable of directly communicating with each device in a first type of device group among the plurality of devices by sending a specific signal to the each device in the first type of device group and monitoring to receive a response signal;
acquiring, from each of one or more first type of devices among the first type of device group, information related to whether or not the first type of device and a different device are capable of directly communicating, the one or more first type of devices being devices that have been confirmed as capable of directly communicating with the planning device; and
causing the memory to store the communication information using a result of the confirmation and the information acquired from the one or more first type of devices.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The computer readable recording device as in claim 10, wherein
the plurality of devices further includes a converting device for generating the print data by performing a converting process on the target data,
the deciding the specific communication path is performed such that the converting device is present on the specific communication path, and
the generating the procedure data is performed such that the converting process is performed by the converting device and the print data generated by the converting process is supplied to the print device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The computer readable recording device as in claim 10, wherein
the computer program further includes an instruction for ordering the planning device to perform:
confirming whether or not the target data is actually present at location information of the target data designated by a user,
wherein the deciding the specific communication path is performed in a case where it is confirmed that the target data is actually present.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The computer readable recording device as in claim 10, wherein
the computer program further includes an instruction for ordering the planning device to perform:
performing a specific process instructed by the procedure data; and
sending the procedure data to a fourth device among the plurality of devices, the fourth device being a device that is to perform a process next to the specific process.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The computer readable recording device as in claim 10, wherein
the deciding the specific communication path is performed such that a number of communications of the target data and the print data between the plurality of devices is at a minimum.

### Claim 15

A method used in a system comprising a plurality of devices including a storage device for storing target data of a print target, a print device for performing a print of a target image represented by the target data and the planning device for planning a procedure for causing the print device to perform the print of the target image,
the method comprising:
storing in a memory, for each combination of two devices among the plurality of devices, communication information related to whether or not the two devices composing the combination are capable of directly communicating;
deciding a specific communication path using the communication information in the memory, the specific communication path being a path capable of supplying print data acquired from the target data in the storage device, the print data having a data format which the print device is capable of interpreting;
generating procedure data for instructing one or more devices which are present on the specific communication path to perform one or more processes sequentially for realizing the print of the target image;
sending the procedure data to a first device among the one or more devices, the first device being a device that is to perform a process performed first among the one or more processes;
confirming whether or not the planning device is capable of directly communicating with each device in a first type of device group among the plurality of devices by sending a specific signal to the each device in the first type of device group and monitoring to receive a response signal;
acquiring, from each of one or more first type of devices among the first type of device group, information related to whether or not the first type of device and a different device are capable of directly communicating, the one or more first type of devices being devices that have been confirmed as capable of directly communicating with the planning device; and
causing the memory to store the communication information using a result of the confirmation and the information acquired from the one or more first type of devices.

### Claim 16

A planning device used in a system comprising a plurality of devices including a storage device for storing target data of a print target, a print device for performing a print of a target image represented by the target data, and the planning device for planning a procedure for causing the print device to perform the print of the target image, the planning device comprising:
a memory configured to store, for each combination of two devices among the plurality of devices, communication information related to whether or not the two devices composing the combination are capable of directly communicating;
a determining unit configured to determine whether or not a data format of the target data is a data format which the print device is capable of interpreting;
a deciding unit configured to decide a specific communication path using the communication information in the memory, the specific communication path being a path capable of supplying print data acquired from the target data in the storage device to the print device, the print data having a data format which the print device is capable of interpreting;
a generating unit configured to generate procedure data for instructing one or more devices which are present on the specific communication path to perform one or more processes sequentially for realizing the print of the target image; and
a sending unit configured to send the procedure data to a first device among the one or more devices, the first device being a device that is to perform a process performed first among the one or more processes, wherein:
the plurality of devices further includes a converting device for generating the print data by performing a converting process on the target data; and
in a first case where it is determined that the data format of the target data is not the data format which the print device is capable of interpreting:
the deciding unit decides the specific communication path such that the converting device is present on the specific communication path; and
the generating unit generates the procedure data such that the converting process is performed by the converting device and the print data generated by the converting process is supplied to the print device; and
in a second case where it is determined that the data format of the target data is the data format which the print device is capable of interpreting:
the deciding unit decides the specific communication path such that the converting device is not present on the specific communication path; and
the generating unit generates the procedure data such that the print data identical with the target data is supplied to the print device.