System used in plural information processing devices for commonly using peripheral device in network

Abstract

Environments of various devices such as an image input device are effectively used as a commonly used resource (shared resource) on a network can be simply set without any loss. In an information processing apparatus provided on a network, a CPU checks as to whether or not a device is locally connected to this information processing apparatus, and then notifies this check result to a management device provided on the network. This management device judges as to whether or not a server program of a common system is installed in a terminal apparatus based on a content of a notification issued from this terminal apparatus. In accordance with this judgement result, the management device installs this server program to this terminal apparatus. Furthermore, in an information processing apparatus having a client function with respect to the server program, when this server program is present on the same node on the network, the information processing apparatus is automatically controlled so as to directly communicate, whereas so as to communicate via a network when this server program is present on another node.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An information processing apparatus connected to a network, comprising: 
 connecting means for locally connecting thereto a peripheral device;    detecting means for detecting as to whether or not the peripheral device is connected to said connecting means; and    installing means for receiving a predetermined program via said network and for installing said received program into a memory provided in the own installing means; wherein: 
 when said detecting means detects such a fact that said peripheral device is connected, a request of installing a server program by which said peripheral device is commonly used on said network is issued to a management device, whereas when said detecting means detects such a fact that said peripheral device is not connected, said install request of the server program is not issued.  
   
     
     
         2 . An information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 judging means for judging as to whether or not said server program is already installed; wherein: 
 in the case that said judging means judges that said server program is already installed, said install request of the server program is not issued irrespective of the detection result of said detecting means.  
   
     
     
         3 . An information processing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 when the installation of said server program is accomplished, such a notification that the peripheral device connected to said connecting means can be commonly used on the network is sent to another device provided on said network.  
 
     
     
         4 . An information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 setting means for setting as to whether or not said server program is installed by a user; wherein: 
 when said setting means sets that said server program is not installed, the request for installing said server program is not issued irrespective of the detection result of said detecting means.  
   
     
     
         5 . An information processing apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 said peripheral device is an image input device.  
 
     
     
         6 . An information processing apparatus connected to a network, comprising: 
 saving means for saving therein a server program by which a peripheral device locally connected to another device provided on said network is commonly used on said network;    acquiring means for acquiring a notification sent from said another device;    judging means for judging as to whether or not said server program is required to be installed into said another device based upon the content of said notification acquired by said acquiring means; and    installing means for installing said server program into said another device based upon the judgement result of said judging means.    
     
     
         7 . An information processing apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 registering means for previously registering a device provided on said network, which is allowed to install therein said server program; wherein: 
 when said another device is not allowed to install therein the server program by said registering means, said installing means does not install said server program irrespective of the judgement result of said judging means.  
   
     
     
         8 . An information processing apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein: 
 when the installation of said server program to said another device is accomplished, such a notification that the peripheral device connected to said another device can be commonly used on the network is sent to a terminal apparatus provided on said network.  
 
     
     
         9 . An information processing apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein: 
 said peripheral device is an image input device.  
 
     
     
         10 . A system in which at least a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus are connected via a network to each other, wherein: 
 said first information processing means is comprised of: 
 connecting means for locally connecting thereto a peripheral device;  
 detecting means for detecting as to whether or not the peripheral device is connected to said connecting means; and  
 judging means for judging as to whether or not a request for installing a server program by which said peripheral device is commonly used on the network is issued to said second information processing apparatus based upon the detection result of said detecting means;  
 when said detecting means detects that said peripheral device is connected, said judging means outputs such a judgement result that said server program installation request is issued, whereas when said detecting means detects that said peripheral device is not connected, said judging means outputs such a judgement result that said server program installation request is not issued; and wherein:  
   said second information processing apparatus is comprised of: 
 installing means for installing said server program to a device provided on said network; and  
 in response to the server program installation request issued from said first information processing apparatus, said installing means installs said server program into said first information processing apparatus.  
   
     
     
         11 . An information processing apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said first information processing apparatus is further comprised of: 
 second judging means for judging as to whether or not said server program is already installed; and wherein: 
 in the case that said second judging means judges that said server program is already installed in said first information processing apparatus, said install request of the server program is not issued irrespective of the detection result of said detecting means.  
   
     
     
         12 . An information processing apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein: 
 when the installation of said server program is accomplished in said first information processing apparatus, such a notification that the peripheral device connected to said connecting means can be commonly used on the network is sent to another device provided on said network.  
 
     
     
         13 . An information processing apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein said first information processing apparatus is further comprised of: 
 setting means for setting as to whether or not said server program is installed by a user; and wherein: 
 when said setting means sets that said server program is not installed in said first information processing apparatus, the request for installing the server program is not issued irrespective of the detection result of said detecting means.  
 
 
     
     
         14 . An information processing apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein: 
 said second information processing apparatus is further comprised of: 
 registering means for previously registering a device provided on said network, which is allowed to install therein said server program; wherein: 
 when said first information processing apparatus is not allowed to install therein the server program by said registering means in said second information processing apparatus, said installing means does not install said server program irrespective of the installation request issued from said first information processing apparatus.  
 
 
 
     
     
         15 . An information processing apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein: 
 when the installation of said server program to said first information processing apparatus is accomplished by said installing means, such a notification that the peripheral device connected to said first information processing apparatus can be commonly used on the network is sent to a terminal apparatus provided on said network.  
 
     
     
         16 . An information processing apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein: 
 said peripheral device is an image input device.  
 
     
     
         17 . An information processing apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein: 
 said second information processing apparatus judges as to whether or not a program used to execute said detecting means, said judging means, and said second judging means is installed into said first information processing apparatus; and  
 when said second information processing apparatus judges that said program is not installed, said program used to execute said detecting means, said judging means, and said second judging means is installed into said first information processing apparatus.  
 
     
     
         18 . An information processing apparatus connected to a network, comprising: 
 connecting means for locally connecting thereto an image input device;    control means for controlling said image input device connected to said connecting means;    server means for acquiring control information of the image input device connected to said connecting mens from said control means in response to a request issued from another device via said network, and for transmitting said acquired control information to a request issuing source;    designating means for designating a predetermined image input device by a user;    seeking means for seeking server means corresponding to the image input device designated by said designating means;    client means for receiving control information with respect to the server means sought by said seeking means; and    interface converting means for converting the control information received by said client means into a general-purpose image input/output interface; wherein: 
 when said server means sought by said seeking means is located in the own apparatus, said client means communicates via a local interface with the sought server means; and  
 when said server means sought by said seeking means is located in another device provided on said network, said client means communicates via the general-purpose network interface with the sought server means.  
   
     
     
         19 . An information processing apparatus according to  claim 18  wherein: 
 said server means is further comprised of judging means for judging a location of a request issuing client means;  
 when said judging means judges that the request issuing client means is located in the own apparatus, said server means communicates via the local interface with said request issuing client means, whereas when said judging means judges that the request issuing client means is located in another device provided on said network, said server means communicates via the general-purpose network interface to the request issuing client means.  
 
     
     
         20 . An information processing apparatus according to  claim 18  wherein: 
 said image input/output interface is a TWAIN interface.  
 
     
     
         21 . An information processing apparatus connected to a network, comprising: 
 connecting means for locally connecting thereto an image input device;    server means for receiving control information of an image input device connected by said connecting means via said network;    control means for acquiring said control information from said server means to thereby control the image input device connected to said connecting means;    designating means for designating a predetermined image input device by a user;    seeking means for seeking server means corresponding to the image input device designated by said designating means; and    client means for transmitting control information to the server means sought by said seeking means in response to an operation instruction to the image input device designated by said designating means; wherein: 
 when said server means sought by said seeking means is located in the own apparatus, said client means communicates via a local interface with the sought server means; and  
 when said server means sought by said seeking means is located in another device provided on said network, said client means communicates via the general-purpose network interface with the sought server.  
   
     
     
         22 . A method for commonly using a peripheral device locally connected to an information processing apparatus connected to a network, comprising the steps of: 
 detecting as to whether or not the peripheral device is locally connected;    issuing a request for installing a server program by which said peripheral device is commonly used on said network to a management device provided on said network, and also for receiving said server program via said network in response to said installation request to thereby install the received server program into a memory employed in the own device in such a case that said detecting step detects that said peripheral device is locally connected; and    not issuing said server program installation request in the case that said detecting step detects that the peripheral device is not locally connected.    
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 22 , further comprising the step of: 
 judging as to whether or not said server program is already installed; wherein:    in the case that said judging step judges that said server program is already installed, said install request of the server program is not issued irrespective of the connection of said peripheral device.    
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 22  wherein: 
 when the installation of said server program is accomplished, such a notification that the locally connected peripheral device can be commonly used on the network is sent to another device provided on said network.  
 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 22 , further comprising the step of: 
 setting as to whether or not said server program is installed by a user; wherein: 
 when said setting step sets that said server program is not installed, the request for installing the server program is not issued irrespective of the connection of said peripheral device.  
   
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 22  wherein: 
 said peripheral device is an image input device.  
 
     
     
         27 . A method for commonly using a peripheral device locally connected to an information processing apparatus connected to a network, comprising the steps of: 
 acquiring a notification sent from another device provided on said network;    judging as to whether or not said server program for commonly using the peripheral device locally connected to said another device on said network is required to be installed into said another device based upon the content of said acquired notification; and installing said server program into said another device based upon the judgement result.    
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 27 , further comprising the step of: 
 previously registering a device provided on said network which is allowed to install therein said server program; wherein: 
 when said another device is not allowed to install therein the server program, said installing step does not install said server program irrespective of the judgement result of said judging step.  
   
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 27  wherein: 
 when the installation of said server program to said another device is accomplished, such a notification that the peripheral device connected to said another device can be commonly used on the network is sent to a terminal apparatus provided on said network.  
 
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 27  wherein: 
 said peripheral device is an image input device.  
 
     
     
         31 . In a system in which at least a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus are connected via a network to each other, a method for commonly using a peripheral device locally connected to said first information processing apparatus on said network, wherein: 
 said first information processing apparatus: 
 detects as to whether or not said peripheral device is locally connected;  
 issues a request for installing a server program by which said peripheral device is commonly used on the network to said second information processing apparatus in such a case that said detecting step detects that the peripheral device is locally connected;  
 receives said server program via said network in response to said installation request to thereby install the received server program into a memory of the own device; and  
 does not issue said server program installation request when said detecting step detects that the peripheral device is not locally connected; and wherein:  
   said second information processing apparatus: 
 installs said server program into said first information processing device in response to the installation request issued from said first information processing apparatus.  
   
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein; 
 said first information processing apparatus is further comprised of the step of: 
 judging as to whether or not said server program is already installed; and wherein: 
 in the case that said judging step judges that said server program is already installed in said first processing apparatus, said install request of the server program is not issued irrespective of the connection of said peripheral device.  
 
   
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein: 
 when the installation of said server program is accomplished in said first information processing apparatus, such a notification that the locally connected peripheral device can be commonly used on the network is sent to another device provided on said network.  
 
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein: 
 said first information processing apparatus is further comprised of the step of: 
 setting as to whether or not said server program is installed by a user; and wherein: 
 when said setting step sets that said server program is not installed in said first information processing apparatus, the request for installing the server program is not issued irrespective of the connection of said peripheral device.  
 
 
 
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein: 
 said second information processing apparatus is further comprised of: 
 registering means for previously registering a device provided on said network, which is allowed to install therein said server program; and wherein: 
 when said first information processing apparatus is not allowed to install therein the server program by said registering means in said second information processing apparatus, said installing means does not install said server program irrespective of the installation request issued from said first information processing apparatus.  
 
 
 
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein: 
 when the installation of said server program to said first information processing apparatus is accomplished by said installing means, such a notification that the peripheral device connected to said first information processing apparatus can be commonly used on the network is sent to a terminal apparatus provided on said network.  
 
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein: 
 said peripheral device is an image input device.  
 
     
     
         38 . A method for commonly using an image input device locally connected to an information processing apparatus connected to a network, comprising the steps of: 
 controlling the locally connected image input device by control means;    in response to a request issued from another device via said network, acquiring control information of an image input device to which server means is connected from said control means and also transmitting the acquired control information to a request issuing source;    designating a predetermined image input device by a user;    seeking server means corresponding to said designated image input device;    requesting said sought server means to send the control information by client means; and    converting the control information received by said sought server means into a general-purpose image input/output interface by said client means; wherein: 
 when said sought server means is located in the own apparatus, said client means communicates via a local interface with the sought server means; and  
 when said server means sought by said seeking means is located in another device provided on said network, said client means communicates via the general-purpose network interface with the sought server.  
   
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 38  wherein: 
 said server means judges a location of a request issuing client means;  
 when said judging means judges that the request issuing client means is located in the own apparatus, said server means communicates via the local interface with said request issuing client means, whereas when said judging means judges that the request issuing client means is located in another device provided on said network, said server means communicates via the general-purpose network interface to the request issuing client means.  
 
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 38  wherein: 
 said image input/output interface is a TWAIN interface.  
 
     
     
         41 . A method for commonly using an image input device locally connected to an information processing apparatus connected to a network, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving control information of a connected image input device via said network by server means;    acquiring said control information from said server means to control the connected image input device by control means;    designating a predetermined image input device by a user;    seeking server means corresponding to said designated image input device; and    transmitting the control information to said sought server means based upon an operation instruction with respect to said designated image input device by client means; wherein: 
 when said sought server means is located in the own apparatus, said client means communicates via a local interface with the sought server means, whereas  
 when said sought server means is located in another device of said network, said client means communicates via a general-purpose network interface with the sought server means.  
   
     
     
         42 . A storage medium for storing thereinto a computer program executed by a computer employed in an information processing apparatus connected to a network so as to commonly use a peripheral device locally connected to the information processing apparatus on the network, wherein: 
 said computer program is comprised of: 
 a process operation for detecting as to whether or not the peripheral device is locally connected;  
 a process operation for issuing a request for installing a server program by which said peripheral device is commonly used on said network to a management device provided on said network;  
 a process operation for receiving said server program via said network in response to said installation request to thereby install the received server program into a memory employed in the own device in such a case that said detecting step detects that said peripheral device is locally connected; and  
 a process operation not for issuing said server program installation request in the case that said detecting step detects that the peripheral device is not locally connected.  
   
     
     
         43 . A computer program storage medium according to  claim 42 , further comprising: 
 a process operation for judging as to whether or not said server program is already installed; wherein: 
 in the case that said judging process judges that said server program is already installed, said install request of the server program is not issued irrespective of the connection of said peripheral device.  
   
     
     
         44 . A computer program storage medium according to  claim 42  wherein: 
 when the installation of said server program is accomplished, such a notification that the peripheral device connected to said connecting means can be commonly used on the network is sent to another device provided on said network.  
 
     
     
         45 . A computer program storage medium according to  claim 42 , further comprising: 
 a process operation for setting as to whether or not said server program is installed by a user; wherein: 
 when said setting process sets that said server program is not installed, the request for installing the server program is not issued irrespective of the connection of said peripheral device.  
   
     
     
         46 . A program storage medium according to  claim 42 , wherein: 
 said peripheral device is an image input device.    
     
     
         47 . A storage medium for storing thereinto a computer program executed by a computer employed in an information processing apparatus connected to a network, wherein: 
 said computer program is comprised of: 
 a process operation for acquiring a notification sent from another device provided on said network;  
 a process operation for judging as to whether or not said server program is required to be installed into said another device based upon the content of said acquired notification; and  
 a process operation for installing said server program into said another device based upon the judgement result.  
   
     
     
         48 . A computer program storage medium according to  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 a process operation for previously registering a device provided on said network, which is allowed to install therein said server program; wherein: 
 when said another device is not allowed to install therein the server program by said registering means, said installing process does not install said server program irrespective of the judgement result of said judging process.  
   
     
     
         49 . A computer program storage medium according to  claim 47  wherein: 
 when the installation of said server program to said another device is accomplished, such a notification that the peripheral device connected to said another device can be commonly used on the network is sent to a terminal apparatus provided on said network.  
 
     
     
         50 . A computer program storage medium according to  claim 47  wherein: 
 said peripheral device is an image input device.  
 
     
     
         51 . A computer program storage medium according to  claim 47  wherein: 
 when the installation of said server program to said another device is accomplished, such a notification that the peripheral device connected to said another device can be commonly used on the network is sent to a terminal apparatus provided on said network.  
 
     
     
         52 . A computer program storage medium according to  claim 47  wherein: 
 said peripheral device is an image input device.  
 
     
     
         53 . A storage medium for storing thereinto a computer program executed by a computer employed in an information processing apparatus to which an image input device is locally connected and which is connected to a network, wherein: 
 said computer program is comprised of: 
 a process operation for acquiring control information of said image input device by server means in response to a request issued from another device via said network;  
 a process operation for transmitting said acquired control information to a request issuing source;  
 a process operation for designating a predetermined image input device by a user;  
 a process operation for seeking server means corresponding to said designated image input device;  
 a process operation for requesting said sought server means to send the control information by client means; and  
 a process operation for converting the control information received by said sought server means into a general-purpose image input/output interface by said client means; wherein: 
 when said server means sought by said seeking means is located in the own apparatus, said client means communicates via a local interface with the sought server means; and  
 when said server means sought by said seeking means is located in another device provided on said network, said client means communicates via the general-purpose network interface with the sought server.  
 
   
     
     
         54 . A computer program storage means according to  claim 53  wherein: 
 said computer program is further comprised of a process operation for judging a location of a request issuing client means by said server means;  
 when said judging process judges that the request-issuing client means is located in the own apparatus, said server means communicates via the local interface with said request-issuing client means, whereas when said judging process judges that the request-issuing client means is located in another device provided on said network, said server means communicates via the general-purpose network interface to the request-issuing client means.  
 
     
     
         55 . A computer program storage medium according to  claim 53  wherein: 
 said image input/output interface is a TWAIN interface.  
 
     
     
         56 . A storage medium for storing thereinto a computer program executed by a computer employed in an information processing apparatus to which an image input device is locally connected and which is connected to a network, wherein: 
 said computer program is comprised of: 
 a process operation for receiving control information of said connected image input device by server means;  
 a process operation for transferring said received control information to control means for controlling said image input device by the server means;  
 a process operation for seeking server means corresponding to an image input device designated by a user; and  
 a process operation for transmitting control information to said sought server means in response to an operation instruction to said designated image input device by client means; and wherein: 
 when said sought server means is located in the own apparatus, said client means communicates via a local interface with the sought server means; and  
 when said sought server means is located in another device provided on said network, said client means communicates via the general-purpose network interface with the sought server.