Patent ID: 7751076
Filing Date: 2010-07-06
Classification: G03G,H04N

Abstract:
1. A control apparatus used in an image forming apparatus capable of equipping a plurality of units each of which is classified according to a function thereof and constituted as a controlled unit, the control apparatus comprising: at least one relay device comprising a plurality of interfaces that are connectable with said plurality of units, said plurality of interfaces having common standards, a detection section that detects each connection state of said plurality of units to said plurality of interfaces, a decision section that decides self-identification information for said relay device according to the connection state detected by said detection section, a consistency control section that performs consistency control to secure consistency of control between said plurality of units connected to said interfaces, based on the self-identification information for said relay device decided by said decision section; and a control device that is communicatably connected to said relay device, said control device obtaining the self-identification information for said relay device decided by said decision section from said relay device, and performing control according to the obtained self-identification information for said relay device.