Selection of a candidate peripheral device

• US 20020069269A1
• Filed: 12/04/2000
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Simpson, Shell S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,981,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0809 Plug-and-play configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies

Abstract

A method and apparatus select a peripheral for use with a computer. The method comprises the following steps: identifying a network switch to which the computer is connected; determining all peripherals connected to the network switch; and choosing one of the determined peripherals according to a predetermined criteria. According to the predetermined criteria, if the number of predetermined peripherals is one, then the predetermined peripheral is chosen; if the number of predetermined peripherals is more than a predetermined number, then none of the predetermined peripherals is chosen; if the number of predetermined peripherals is less than a predetermined number, then one of the predetermined peripherals is chosen. Optionally, the method also reads a connection table in the network switch. The apparatus comprises a network switch identification module, a peripheral determination agent and a peripheral selection logic. The peripheral determination agent is connected to the network switch identification module. The peripheral selection logic is connected to the peripheral determination agent. Optionally, the apparatus also comprises a switch connection table reader, connected to the peripheral determination agent and/or a secondary criteria agent, connected to the peripheral selection logic. In some embodiments, the apparatus also includes a main control module, connected to the a network switch identification module, the peripheral determination agent, and the peripheral selection logic. In other embodiments, the apparatus is a host computer including a network interface, connected to the network switch identification module and the peripheral determination agent. In yet other embodiments, the apparatus is a computer network, including a network switch and a printer, connected to the network switch.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a peripheral for use with a computer, the method comprising:

identifying a network switch to which the computer is connected;

determining one or more peripherals connected to the network switch; and

choosing one of the determined peripherals according to a predetermined criteria.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step comprises:

determining all peripherals connected to the network switch; and

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the predetermined criteria comprises:

if the number of all determined peripherals is one, then choosing the determined peripheral.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the predetermined criteria comprises:

if the number of all predetermined peripherals is more than a predetermined number, then not choosing any of the predetermined peripherals.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the predetermined criteria comprises:

if the number of all predetermined peripherals is less than a predetermined number, then choosing one of the determined peripherals.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the determining step comprises:

reading a connection table in the network switch.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the peripheral is a printer.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a network switch identification module;

a peripheral determination agent, connected to the network switch identification module; and

peripheral selection logic, connected to the peripheral determination agent.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

a switch connection table reader, connected to the peripheral determination agent.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

a secondary criteria agent, connected to the peripheral selection logic.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

a main control module, connected to the a network switch identification module, the peripheral determination agent, and the peripheral selection logic.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

a network interface, connected to the network switch identification module and the peripheral determination agent.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

a network switch, connected to the network interface.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

a printer, connected to the network switch.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the network switch comprises:

a switching fabric; and

a connection table.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the determining step comprises:

determining all peripherals connected to the network switch; and

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the predetermined criteria comprises:

if the number of all determined peripherals is one, then choosing the determined peripheral.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the predetermined criteria comprises:

if the number of predetermined peripherals is less than a predetermined number, then choosing one of the predetermined peripherals.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the peripherals are printers.

16. A computer readable medium on which is embedded a computer program, the program performing a method for selecting a peripheral for use with a computer, the method comprising:

identifying a network switch to which the computer is connected;

determining one or more peripherals connected to the network switch; and

choosing one of the determined peripherals according to a predetermined criteria.