초록 ▼

This method of managing the resources of a computer communication means for processing a computer document stored on a processing control device connected by the communication means to at least one processing device includes a step of selecting at least one processing device of the communication mea

This method of managing the resources of a computer communication means for processing a computer document stored on a processing control device connected by the communication means to at least one processing device includes a step of selecting at least one processing device of the communication means as a function of a first group of criteria relating to the functioning of this device, and a second group of criteria relating to its geographical situation.

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The invention claimed is: 1. A method for managing resources of a wireless computer communication network, wherein said network comprises at least one base station and a plurality of processing devices as mobile stations, for processing a computer document stored on a processing control device conn

The invention claimed is: 1. A method for managing resources of a wireless computer communication network, wherein said network comprises at least one base station and a plurality of processing devices as mobile stations, for processing a computer document stored on a processing control device connected by said network to at least one of said processing devices, said method comprising the steps of: locating said processing devices in said network so as to obtain a position of each of said processing devices in said network, said locating step comprising a step of switching a station operating as a mobile station to a base station operating mode when there are an insufficient number of base stations in said network to perform said locating step; and a first selecting step of selecting, from among said plurality of processing devices, at least one processing device as a function of a group of position criteria relating to the position of said processing devices, so as to obtain a first selected group of processing devices. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, after said first selection step, a second step of selecting, among said first selected group of processing devices, one processing device as a function of a group of operating criteria relating to the functioning of said processing devices. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said group of operating criteria includes parameters relating to the configuration capability of said processing devices. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the value of said parameters relating to the configuration capability is determined as a function of the content of said computer document to be processed. 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein said group of operating criteria includes characteristics chosen from among a type of processing devices, the ability to process a color file, the ability to process a file on both sides of a paper, a maximum resolution factor, a number of grey levels or a number of color shades, or a bandwidth available on the network. 6. The method according to claim 2, wherein said group of operating criteria includes a maximum number of documents awaiting processing. 7. The method according to claim 2 further comprising, after said second selection step, a step of automatic configuration of said one processing device. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the configuration step is performed as a function of content of said document to be processed. 9. The method according to claim 7 further comprising a step of analyzing content of said document to be processed before the configuration step. 10. The method according to claim 9 further comprising a step of translating the document to be processed in the form of graphical instructions before the analysis step. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the analysis step is performed using said graphical instructions. 12. The method according to claim 9 further comprising a step of choosing a correct configuration of the processing device. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the choosing step is performed using the results of the analysis of the document to be processed. 14. The method according to claim 12 further comprising a step of obtaining additional data before the step of choosing a correct configuration. 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said obtaining step is performed by reading operating parameters of said processing device among at least a type of printing ink used and a type of paper. 16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said obtaining step is performed by interrogating a user on operating parameters of said processing device among at least a draft operating mode, a type of printing ink and a type of paper. 17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the configuration choosing step is adapted to choose said correct configuration among a set of prerecorded configurations for said processing device, dependent on the content of the document and additional data. 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said set of prerecorded configurations includes at least a configuration for a draft operating mode, a configuration for the processing of images, a configuration for the processing of graphics, and a configuration for the processing of a text. 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said set of prerecorded configurations includes subsets containing a configuration for a draft operating mode, a configuration for the processing of images, a configuration for the processing of graphics, and a configuration for the processing of a text, wherein each subset is defined for a unique combination of printing ink and paper type used. 20. The method according to claim 12, wherein the configuration choosing step is adapted to choose said correct configuration among a set of prerecorded configurations for said processing device, dependent on the content of the document. 21. The method according to claim 9, wherein the analysis step comprises steps according to which: it is sought whether or not open graphical functions exist; it is sought whether or not closed graphical functions exist; it is sought whether or not representations in bitmap mode exist; and it is sought whether or not text functions exist. 22. The method according to claim 1, wherein said group of position criteria includes characteristics chosen from among a place in which said processing device is situated, the device's proximity with respect to a given place, the device's distance with respect to a given place, or the device's distance with respect to said control device. 23. The method according to claim 1 wherein: a search operation is performed, consisting of seeking the presence of at least one base station in an environment of said processing device; if the presence of at least one base station is detected, for each base station detected, a measuring operation is performed, consisting of measuring the position of said processing devices and determining the precision of the measurement made; and, if the precision of the measurement made is less than a predetermined value: a change of mode request operation is performed, consisting of requesting a hybrid station operating in mobile station mode to switch into base station operating mode; and a switching operation is performed, consisting of, for said hybrid station, switching from mobile station operating mode to base station operating mode, in order to constitute a new base station. 24. The method according to claim 23, wherein, during said measuring operation, the position of said processing devices which are mobile stations is measured from a plurality of information items transmitted by the detected base station. 25. The method according to claim 24, wherein, during said measuring operation, said plurality of information items includes a value of the power of the radio signal received from the base station. 26. The method according to claim 24, wherein said plurality of information items further includes a value of a mobility parameter broadcast by the base station. 27. The method according to claim 24, wherein said plurality of information items further includes a value of a position parameter broadcast by the base station. 28. The method according to claim 1, wherein content of said computer document is grouped together by page. 29. The method according to claim 1, wherein said processing includes a printing of said computer document, the processing device being a printer. 30. The method according to claim 1, wherein said processing includes a transfer of said computer document over a telephone communication network, wherein the processing devices are modems or facsimile machines. 31. The method according to claim 1, wherein said communication network is a local wireless network. 32. A system for managing resources of a wireless computer communication network, wherein said network comprises at least one base station and a plurality of processing devices as mobile stations, for processing a computer document stored on a processing control device connected by said network to at least one of said processing devices, said managing system comprising: a locating device that locates said processing devices in said network so as to obtain a position of each of said devices in said network, said locating device comprising a switching device that switches a station operating as a mobile station to a base station operating mode when there are an insufficient number of base stations in said network to perform the locating; and a first selecting device that selects, among said plurality of processing devices, at least one processing device as a function of a group of position criteria relating to the position of said processing devices, so as to obtain a first selected group of processing devices. 33. The system according to claim 32 further comprising a second selecting device that selects, among said first selected group of processing devices, one processing device as a function of a group of operating criteria relating to the functioning of said processing devices. 34. The system according to claim 33, wherein said group of operating criteria includes parameters relating to the configuration capability of said processing devices. 35. The system according to claim 34, wherein the value of said parameters relating to the configuration capability is determined as a function of the content of said computer document to be processed. 36. The system according to claim 33, wherein said group of operating criteria includes characteristics chosen from among a type of processing devices, the ability to process a color file, the ability to process a file on both sides of a paper, a maximum resolution factor, a number of grey levels or a number of color shades, or a bandwidth available on the network. 37. The system according to claim 33, wherein said group of operating criteria includes a maximum number of documents awaiting processing. 38. The system according to claim 33 further comprising a configuration device that automatically configures said one processing device. 39. The system according to claim 38, wherein the configuration device performs the configuration as a function of content of said document to be processed. 40. The system according to claim 38 further comprising an analyzing device that analyzes content of said document to be processed before the configuration. 41. The system according to claim 40 further comprising a data obtaining device that obtains additional data before choosing a correct configuration. 42. The system according to claim 38, wherein the configuration device is adapted to choose a correct configuration from among a set of prerecorded configurations for said processing device, dependent on the content of the document. 43. The system according to claim 38, wherein the configuration device is adapted to choose a correct configuration among a set of prerecorded configurations for said processing device, dependent on the content of the document and additional data. 44. The system according to claim 43, wherein said set of prerecorded configurations includes at least a configuration for a draft operating mode, a configuration for the processing of images, a configuration for the processing of graphics, and a configuration for the processing of a text. 45. The system according to claim 32, wherein said group of position criteria includes characteristics chosen from among a place in which said processing device is situated, the device's proximity with respect to a given place, the device's distance with respect to a given place, or the device's distance with respect to the control device. 46. A system according to claim 32 further comprising: a seeking device that seeks the presence of at least one base station in an environment of said processing device; a measuring device that, if the presence of at least one base station is detected, for each base station detected, measures the position of said processing devices and determines the precision of the measurement made; a mode changing device that requests a change of mode to request that a hybrid station operating in mobile station mode switch into base station operating mode if the precision of the measurement made is less than a predetermined value; and a switching device that enables said hybrid station to switch from the mobile station operating mode to the base station operating mode, in order to constitute a new base station. 47. The system according to claim 46, wherein said measuring device is adapted to measure the position of said processing devices which are mobile stations from a plurality of information items transmitted by the detected base station. 48. The system according to claim 47, wherein said plurality of information items includes a value of the power at the radio signal received from the base station. 49. The system according to claim 47, wherein said plurality of information items further includes a value of a mobility parameter broadcast by the base station. 50. The system according to claim 47, wherein said plurality of information items further includes a value of a position parameter broadcast by the base station. 51. The system according to claim 32, wherein said processing includes a printing of said computer document, the processing device being a printer. 52. The system according to claim 32, wherein said processing includes a transfer of said computer document over a telephone communication network, wherein the processing devices are modems or facsimile machines. 53. The system according to claim 32, wherein said communication network is a local wireless network. 54. A system according to claim 32, wherein the system comprises a wireless telecommunications network. 55. A mobile station in a wireless telecommunications network, comprising: a processor for executing computer executable process steps; and a memory storing computer executable process steps to be executed by the processor, the computer executable process steps comprising steps for executing a method for managing resources of a wireless computer communication network, wherein said network comprises at least one base station and a plurality of processing devices as mobile stations, for processing a computer document stored on a processing control device connected by said network to at least one of said processing devices, said method comprising the steps of (a) locating said processing devices in said network so as to obtain a position of each of said processing devices in said network, said locating step comprising a step of switching a station operating as a mobile station to a base station operating mode when there are an insufficient number of base stations in said network to perform said locating step, and (b) a first selecting step of selecting, from among said plurality of processing devices, at least one processing device as a function of a group of position criteria relating to the position of said processing devices, so as to obtain a first selected group of processing devices. 56. A base station in a wireless telecommunications network, comprising: a processor for executing computer executable process steps; and a memory storing computer executable process steps to be executed by the processor, the computer executable process steps comprising steps for executing a method for managing resources of a wireless computer communication network, wherein said network comprises at least one base station and a plurality of processing devices as mobile stations, for processing a computer document stored on a processing control device connected by said network to at least one of said processing devices, said method comprising the steps of (a) locating said processing devices in said network so as to obtain a position of each of said processing devices in said network, said locating step comprising a step of switching a station operating as a mobile station to a base station operating mode when there are an insufficient number of base stations in said network to perform said locating step, and (b) a first selecting step of selecting, from among said plurality of processing devices, at least one processing device as a function of a group of position criteria relating to the position of said processing devices, so as to obtain a first selected group of processing devices. 57. A computer-readable storage medium on which is stored computer-executable codes of a computer program, said program comprising computer executable process steps implementing a method for managing resources of a wireless computer communication network, wherein said network comprises at least one base station and a plurality of processing devices as mobile stations, for processing a computer document stored on a processing control device connected by said network to at least one of said processing devices, said method comprising the steps of: locating said processing devices in said network so as to obtain a position of each of said processing devices in said network, said locating step comprising a step of switching a station operating as a mobile station to a base station operating mode when there are an insufficient number of base stations in said network to perform said locating step; and a first selecting step of selecting, from among said plurality of processing devices, at least one processing device as a function of a group of position criteria relating to the position of said processing devices, so as to obtain a first selected group of processing devices.