1. An information processing device comprising:
a memory that stores function identifiers assigned to functions built into the information processing device, and function identifiers assigned to functions not built into the information processing device;
a display controller that causes a display unit to display the function identifiers stored in the memory;
a manipulation unit that accepts manipulation for specifying one of the function identifiers displayed by the display controller; and
a transmission unit that transmits, if the one of the function identifiers which has been specified by the manipulation is assigned to one of the functions not built into the information processing device, the specified one of the information identifiers or an information item indicating one of the functions to which is assigned one of the information identifiers which has been specified by the manipulation, to a predetermined device.
2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein
the functions are related to each other, classified hierarchically in uppermost to lowermost layers;
the display controller causes the display unit to hierarchically display the function identifiers stored in the memory;
the manipulation unit accepts manipulation of specifying one of the function identifiers displayed by the display controller, in each of the layers;
if one of the function identifiers specified in the lowermost layer is assigned to one of the functions not built into the information processing device, the transmission unit transmits, to the predetermined device, the specified one of the function identifiers or an information item indicating one of the functions which is assigned to the specified one of the function identifiers, and other ones of the function identifiers, which have been specified respectively in upper layers other than the lowermost layer, in a course of reaching the lowermost layer.
3. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein if one of the function identifiers assigned to the functions not built into the information processing device is specified among the function identifiers stored in the memory, the display controller causes the display unit to display text information indicating that one of the functions to which is assigned the specified one of the function identifiers is not built into the information processing device.
4. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the display controller inhibits the display unit from displaying the specified one of the information identifiers which has been transmitted by the transmission unit, among the function identifiers stored in the memory.
5. The information processing device according to claim 4, further comprising an identification unit that identifies a user who manipulates the manipulation unit, wherein
the memory stores an identifier assigned to the user identified by the identification unit, and the function identifier specified by the manipulation, with the identifier and the function identifier related to each other, and
the display controller inhibits the display unit from displaying the function identifier stored in relation to the identifier assigned to the user identified by the identification unit.
6. The information processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a reception unit that receives the function identifiers assigned to the functions not built into the information processing device, from a predetermined device, wherein
the memory stores the function identifiers received by the reception unit, as the function identifiers assigned to the functions not built into the information processing device.
7. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the display controller displays the function identifiers assigned to the functions built into the information processing device, and the function identifiers assigned to the functions not built into the information processing device, allowing an execution instruction to be given to any of the function identifiers displayed.
8. An information collection device comprising:
a reception unit that receives one of the function identifiers assigned to functions not built into an information processing device or information items indicating the functions not built into the device;
a memory that stores the one of the function identifiers assigned to the functions not built into or the information items indicating the function not built into the information storing device, which has been received by the reception unit, with the received one of the function identifiers or information items related to a reception count indicating the number of times the received one of the function identifiers or the information items has been received; and
a notification unit that issues notification information indicating one of the function identifiers or information items, which is related to a reception count exceeding a threshold, among the function identifiers or information items indicating the functions not built into the information processing device, which are stored in the memory.
9. The information collection device according to claim 8, further comprising a distribution unit that distributes, to the information processing device, a software program for performing the functions to which is assigned one of the function identifiers, which is related to the reception count exceeding the threshold.
10. The information collection device according to claim 8, wherein
the reception unit receives a device identifier assigned to the information collection device, and one of the function identifiers assigned to the functions not built into the information processing device or the information items indicating the functions not built into the device, and
the information collection device further comprises a distribution unit that distributes a software program for performing a function to which is assigned or indicated by the received one of the function identifiers or the information items, to the information collection device to which is assigned the device identifier which is stored in the memory, related to the received one of the function identifiers or the information items.
11. The information collection device according to claim 10, wherein
if one of the function identifiers and a software program for performing a function to which is assigned the one of the function identifier are input, the distribution unit inquires of an information processing device to which is assigned a device identifier which is stored in the memory, related to the one of the function identifiers, about whether distribution of the software program is required or not, and
as an inquiry result, if the distribution of the software program is required, the distribution unit distributes the software program.
12. An information collection system comprising:
an information processing device including
a memory that stores function identifiers assigned to functions built into the information processing device, and function identifiers assigned to functions not built into the information processing device,
a display controller that causes a display unit to display the function identifiers stored in the memory,
a manipulation unit that accepts manipulation for specifying any of the function identifiers displayed by the display controller, and
a transmission unit that transmits, if a function identifier specified by the manipulation is assigned to one of the functions not built into the information processing device, the specified information identifier or an information item indicating one of the functions which has been specified by the manipulation, to a predetermined device; and
an information collection device including
a memory that receives the specified function identifier or the information item indicating the one of the functions, which has been transmitted by the transmission unit, and stores the specified function identifier or the information item, related to a reception count indicating the number of times the function identifier or the information item has been received, and
a notification unit that issues notification information indicating one of the function identifiers or information items which are stored in the memory, the one of the function identifier or information item being related to a reception count exceeding a threshold.
13. A method, comprising:
storing function identifiers assigned to functions built into a computer, and function identifiers assigned to functions not built into the computer;
displaying the stored function identifiers;
accepting manipulation for specifying the one of the displayed function identifiers; and
transmitting, if the one of the function identifiers which has been specified by the manipulation is assigned to one of the functions not built into the computer, the specified one of the information identifiers or an information item indicating one of the functions to which is assigned the one of the information identifiers which has been specified by the manipulation, to a predetermined device.
14. A method, comprising:
receiving function identifiers assigned to functions or information items indicating functions which are specified by manipulation of a user;
storing the function identifiers or the information items indicating functions, which have been received by the reception unit, with the received function identifiers or information items related to reception counts respectively, indicating the number of times the function identifiers or the information items have been received; and
issuing notification information indicating one of the function identifiers or information items, which is related to a reception count exceeding a threshold, among the stored function identifiers or information items.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A cable support device for use in combination with equipment to which multiple electrical or fiber-optic cables, or both, are connected, comprising:
a frame, including first and second frame sections spaced apart and located in the vicinity of a connector panel of the equipment; and
a plurality of elongate cable support bars extending between the first and second frame sections and spaced apart in generally parallel relation therealong, each of the cable support bars being slidably supported by the first frame section to facilitate sliding movement of the cable support bar along its longitudinal axis from a closed position, wherein the cable support bar spans between the first and second frame sections, toward an open position, wherein the cable support bar is retracted from the second frame section to thereby facilitate access to the equipment.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the cable support bars are horizontally oriented.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the cable support bars are vertically oriented.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein:
each of the cable support bars includes an oversized head an end of the cable support bar nearest the second frame section; and
the second frame section includes a bracket having a plurality of slots spaced apart and sized to receive and engage the oversized heads of the cable support bars when the cable support bars are in the closed position.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein the oversized heads and the slots cooperate when the cable support bars are in the closed position, to prevent the cable support bar from being moved in the first direction.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the slots are T-shaped so that the cable support bars are disengaged from the slots by moving the second end of the cable support bars in a second direction different from the first direction.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first frame section includes, for each cable support bar, a pair of guide holes spaced apart in the first direction, each pair of guide holes adapted to receive and orient one of the cable support bars relative to the frame when said cable support bar is moved toward the open position.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein:
in the closed position, each of the cable support bars is supported near its first end in one of the guide holes; and
in the open position, each of the cable support bars is slidably supported in both guide holes of the corresponding pair of guide holes.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein the second guide hole is offset from a line intersecting first guide hole and the slot.
10. A cable support device for use in combination with equipment to which multiple electrical or fiber-optic cables, or both, are connected, comprising:
a plurality of elongate bars spaced apart in generally parallel relation in proximity to a connector panel of the equipment, each of the elongate bars having a longitudinal axis; and
a frame means for slidably supporting the bars for movement along their longitudinal axes from a closed position, wherein the bars extend across substantially the entire connector panel, toward an open position, wherein at least one of the bars is at least partially retracted to thereby facilitate access to the equipment.
11. The device of claim 10, wherein the frame means includes first and second frame sections spaced apart adjacent the connector panel.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein:
the bars span between the first and second frame sections when in the closed position, and
at least one of the bars is at least partially retracted from the second frame section when in the open position, to thereby facilitate access to the equipment.
13. The device of claim 10, wherein the frame means includes means for supporting the bars in a horizontal orientation.
14. The device of claim 10, wherein the frame means includes means for supporting the bars in a vertical orientation.
15. The device of claim 10, further comprising means for releasably retaining the bars in the closed position to prevent inadvertent opening thereof.
16. The device of claim 10, further comprising guide means, operable when the bars are in the open position, for slidably guiding the bars along their longitudinal axes and preventing significant angular deflection of the bars relative to the closed position.
17. The device of claim 16, wherein the guide means includes an offset guide means that supports the bars when in the open position in an orientation that offsets a cantilever deflection of the bars caused by a cable load on the bars.
18. A cable support device for use in combination with computer or telecommunications equipment, comprising:
a frame located in the vicinity of a connector panel of the computer or telecommunications equipment; and
an elongate cable support bar supported by the frame for sliding movement of the cable support bar along its longitudinal axis from a closed position, wherein the cable support bar spans across the connector panel, toward an open position, wherein the cable support bar is retracted at least partially along the connector panel, to thereby allow manual access to the computer or telecommunications equipment.
19. The device of claim 18, further comprising guide means, operable when the bar is in the open position, for slidably guiding the cable support bar along its longitudinal axes and preventing significant angular deflection of the bar relative to the closed position.
20. The device of claim 18, further comprising means for releasably retaining the bar in the closed position to prevent inadvertent opening thereof.