Removable Media Device Capable of Notifying Network Device of Insertion of Removable Media

Abstract

When a memory card is inserted into a card reader of an MFP, a selected network address is set as a connection destination, and a memory card insertion signal is transmitted to the connection destination. On the other hand, when no network address is selected, all network addresses stored in the memory card are set as connection destinations, and the memory card insertion signal is transmitted to the set connection destinations. The memory card insertion signal includes information indicating the insertion of the memory card into the card reader and a network address of the MFP.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An illustrative embodiment in accordance with the invention will be described in detail with reference to the following figures wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a communication system including a multi function peripheral (MFP) according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an operation panel in the MFP;

FIG. 3 is a conceptual view showing the outline of processing performed in the MFP and a PC in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4( a) is a view showing a window displayed on a liquid crystal display of the PC;

FIG. 4( b) is a view showing a window displayed on the liquid crystal display of the PC;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart representing processing executed in the MFP; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart representing processing executed in the PC.

Claims

1. A removable media device communicable with a plurality of network devices via a network, the removable media device comprising: an insert section into which a removable media is detachably insertable;an insertion detecting unit that detects the removable media inserted into the insert section;a reading unit that reads an identification information from the removable media when the insertion detecting unit has detected the removable media, the identification information identifying one of the network devices; anda notifying unit that notifies the network device identified by the identification information of the insertion of the removable media.

2. The removable media device according to claim 1, further comprising a receiving unit that receives a transmission request through the network, and a transmission unit that transmits, through the network, data stored in the removable media in response to the transmission request.

3. The removable media device according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit reads a plurality of identification informations from the removable media, and the notifying unit notifies network devices identified by the identification informations of the insertion of the removable media.

4. The removable media device according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit that selects one of a plurality of identification informations, wherein the reading unit reads the selected identification information from the memory card, and the notifying unit notifies the network devices identified by the identification information read from the memory card of the insertion of the removable media.

5. The removable media device according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit further notifies the network device of a network address of the removable media device through the network.

6. A storage medium storing a set of program instructions executable on a removable media device and usable for controlling the removable media device, instructions comprising: detecting insertion of a removable media into an insert section;reading an identification information from the removable media when the insertion of the removable media is detected, the identification information identifying a network device; andnotifying, through a network, the network device identified by the identification information read from the removable media of the insertion of the removable media.

7. The storage medium according to claim 6, wherein instructions further comprise receiving a transmission request through the network, and transmitting, through the network, data stored in the removable media in response to the transmission request.

8. The storage medium according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of identification informations are read from the memory card, and a plurality of network devices identified by the identification informations are notified of the insertion of the removable media.

9. The storage medium according to claim 6, wherein instructions further comprise selecting one of a plurality of identification informations, wherein the selected identification information is read from the memory card

10. The storage medium according to claim 6, wherein instruction further comprise notifying the network device identified by the identification information of a network address of the removable media device through the network.

11. A storage medium storing a set of program instructions executable on a network device and usable for controlling the network device, instructions comprising: detecting reception of a notification signal from a removable media device through a network, the notification signal indicating that a removable media has been mounted on the removable media device; anddisplaying information on a display when the reception of the notification signal was detected, the information notifying that the removable media has been mounted on the removable media device.

12. The storage medium according to claim 11, wherein instructions further comprise receiving data stored in the removable media through the network, and displaying the received data on the display.

13. The storage medium according to claim 12, wherein instructions further comprise receiving a network address of the removable media device through the network, and transmitting a request signal to the removable media device based on the received network address, the request signal requesting the removable media device to transmit the data stored in the removable media.

14. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein: the information displayed on the display is an icon indicating that the removable media has been mounted on the removable media device;instructions further comprise detecting a selection of the icon; andthe request signal is transmitted when the selection of the icon was detected.