Image forming system using network, image control apparatus, control methods therefor, and storage media storing control programs therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12052139-B2
Application number	US-202217968269-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 18, 2022
Priority date	Nov 10, 2021
Publication date	Jul 30, 2024
Grant date	Jul 30, 2024

Abstract

An image forming system that is convenient for a user even when an image forming apparatus is directly connected to a network in addition to an image control apparatus. The image forming system includes an image control apparatus and an image forming apparatus. The image control apparatus includes a first communication member connected to an external apparatus through a network, a second communication member connected to the image forming apparatus through a predetermined transfer path, and a port controller that controls switching of a predetermined network port of the first communication member. The image forming apparatus includes a third communication member connected to the external apparatus through the network, and a fourth communication member connected to the image control apparatus through the predetermined transfer path. The port controller closes the predetermined network port in a case where both of the third and fourth communication members are valid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming system comprising:
an image forming apparatus; and
an image control apparatus comprising:
a first communication member configured to be connected to an external apparatus through a network;
a second communication member configured to be connected to the image forming apparatus through a predetermined transfer path; and
a port controller configured to control switching of a predetermined network port of the first communication member; and

wherein the image forming apparatus comprises:
a third communication member configured to be connected to the external apparatus through the network; and
a fourth communication member configured to be connected to the image control apparatus through the predetermined transfer path,

wherein the port controller:
closes the predetermined network port in a state where the first and third communication members are connected to a same network; and
opens the predetermined network port in a state where the first and third communication members are respectively connected to different networks.

2. The image forming system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the image forming apparatus further comprises a controller, including one or more processors and one or more memories, configured to obtain a connection configuration of the image forming apparatus and a connection configuration of the image control apparatus, and
the port controller determines whether the first and third communication members are connected to the same network using the connection configuration of the image forming apparatus and the connection configuration of the image control apparatus.

3. The image forming system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the image control apparatus further comprises a controller, including one or more processors and one or more memories, configured to obtain a connection configuration of the image forming apparatus and a connection configuration of the image control apparatus, and
the port controller determines whether the first and third communication members are connected to the same network using the connection configuration of the image forming apparatus and the connection configuration of the image control apparatus.

4. The image forming system according to claim 3 , wherein the connection configuration of the image forming apparatus and the connection configuration of the image control apparatus are set and held in the image control apparatus.

5. The image forming system according to claim 3 , wherein the connection configuration of the image forming apparatus and the connection configuration of the image control apparatus are input through an operation unit of the image control apparatus.

6. The image forming system according to claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the connection configuration of the image forming apparatus and the connection configuration of the image control apparatus using network settings of the image control apparatus and the image forming apparatus.

7. An image control apparatus comprising:
a first communication member configured to be connected to an external apparatus through a network;
a second communication member configured to be connected to an image forming apparatus through a predetermined transfer path; and
a port controller configured to control switching of a predetermined network port of the first communication member,
wherein the port controller:
closes the predetermined network port in a state where the first communication member and a third communication member, which is provided in the image forming apparatus and configured to be connected to the external apparatus through the network, are connected to a same network; and
opens the predetermined network port in a state where the first and third communication members are respectively connected to different networks.

8. A control method for an image forming system including an image control apparatus that includes first and second connectors and an image forming apparatus that includes third and fourth connectors, the control method comprising:
connecting the image control apparatus to an external apparatus through a network using the first connector;
connecting the image control apparatus to the image forming apparatus through a predetermined transfer path using the second connector;
connecting the image forming apparatus to the external apparatus through the network using the third connector;
connecting the image forming apparatus to the image control apparatus through the predetermined transfer path using the fourth connector;
closing a predetermined network port of the first connector in a state where the first and third connectors are connected to a same network; and
opening the predetermined network port in a state where the first and third connectors are respectively connected to different networks.

9. A control method for an image control apparatus that includes first and second connectors, the control method comprising:
connecting the image control apparatus to an external apparatus through a network using the first connector;
connecting the image control apparatus to an image forming apparatus through a predetermined transfer path using the second connector;
closing a predetermined network port of the first connector in a state where the first connector and a third connector, which is provided in the image forming apparatus to be connected to the external apparatus through the network, are connected to a same network; and
opening the predetermined network port in a state where the first and third connectors are respectively connected to different networks.

10. An image forming system comprising:
an image forming apparatus; and
an image control apparatus comprising:
a first communication member configured to be connected to an external apparatus through a network;
a second communication member configured to be connected to the image forming apparatus through a predetermined transfer path; and
a port controller configured to control switching of a predetermined network port of the first communication member; and

wherein the image forming apparatus comprises:
a third communication member configured to be connected to the external apparatus through the network; and
a fourth communication member configured to be connected to the image control apparatus through the predetermined transfer path,

wherein the port controller opens the predetermined network port in a state where the first and third communication members are respectively connected to different networks.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Oba Yoshitaka

Classifications

• H04N1/32793 Primary

  Controlling a receiver or transmitter non-communication function in response to a communication control signal · CPC title

• H04N2201/0039

  Connection via a network · CPC title

• H04N2201/0044

  Connecting to a plurality of different apparatus; Using a plurality of different connectors · CPC title

• H04L41/12

  Discovery or management of network topologies · CPC title

• Y02D10/00

  Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management · CPC title