Method and system for assigning peripheral devices to logical ports of a network peripheral server
First Claim
1. A method of assigning logical ports to respective peripheral devices physically connected to a server in a network having client computers with client software, wherein the respective peripheral devices are connected to one or more physical port interfaces, the assigned logical ports enabling client software to communicate with the peripheral devices regardless of the particular physical port interface the peripheral device is connected to, the method comprising the steps of:
- the server querying, responsive to a predetermined event, a peripheral device that is connected to the server by a physical port interface for information which identifies the peripheral device;
the peripheral device communicating said identification information to the server;
the server initially assigning a logical port identification for a peripheral device that is connected to a physical port interface of the server and storing said logical port identification and said identification information in memory;
the server thereafter directing communications for respective peripheral devices from client computers to said assigned logical port for such peripheral devices, wherein the communications are executed utilizing the client software.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for assigning logical port identification for multiple peripheral devices that may be connected to a peripheral server in a network environment is disclosed. The assigned logical port identification enables client computers to utilize client software to communicate with and control operation of the peripheral devices, even though the peripheral devices may be connected to the server with different types of physical interfaces, such as parallel port interfaces or by a Universal Serial Bus interface. The invention permits peripheral devices to be added and removed without producing peripheral device malfunctions and other problems that often occurred in the prior art.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of assigning logical ports to respective peripheral devices physically connected to a server in a network having client computers with client software, wherein the respective peripheral devices are connected to one or more physical port interfaces, the assigned logical ports enabling client software to communicate with the peripheral devices regardless of the particular physical port interface the peripheral device is connected to, the method comprising the steps of:
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the server querying, responsive to a predetermined event, a peripheral device that is connected to the server by a physical port interface for information which identifies the peripheral device;
the peripheral device communicating said identification information to the server;
the server initially assigning a logical port identification for a peripheral device that is connected to a physical port interface of the server and storing said logical port identification and said identification information in memory;
the server thereafter directing communications for respective peripheral devices from client computers to said assigned logical port for such peripheral devices, wherein the communications are executed utilizing the client software. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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13. A method of assigning logical ports to respective peripheral devices physically connected to a server in a network having client computers with client software, wherein the respective peripheral devices are adapted to be connected to one or more physical port interfaces, the assigned logical ports enabling client software to communicate with the peripheral devices regardless of the particular physical port interface the peripheral device is connected to, the method comprising the steps of:
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the server querying, responsive to a predetermined event, a peripheral device that is connected to the server by a physical port interface for information which identifies the peripheral device;
the peripheral device communicating said identification information to the server;
the server placing the unassigned peripheral devices in a queue for subsequent assignment of logical ports by manual assignment;
the server storing assigned logical port identification and said identification information in memory;
the server thereafter directing communications for respective peripheral devices from client computers to said assigned logical port for such peripheral devices wherein said communications are executed utilizing the client software.
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15. A system of assigning logical ports to respective peripheral devices physically connected to a server connected in a network including client computers having client software for controlling the operation of the peripheral devices, wherein the respective peripheral devices are connected to one or more physical port interfaces, the assigned logical ports enabling client software to communicate with the peripheral devices regardless of the particular physical port interface the peripheral device is connected to, the system comprising:
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the server being adapted to query, responsive to a predetermined event, a peripheral device that is connected to the server by a physical port interface for information which identifies the peripheral device;
the peripheral device being adapted to communicate said identification information to the server;
the server being adapted to initially assign a logical port identification for a peripheral device that is connected to a physical port interface of the server and store said logical port identification and said identification information in memory;
the server thereafter directing communications for respective peripheral devices from client computers to said assigned logical port for such peripheral devices, wherein the client computers communicate with the peripheral device using the client software.
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20. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program codes embodied in the medium that when executed causes the server to:
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query a peripheral device that is connected to the server by a physical port interface for information which identifies the peripheral device, responsive to a predetermined event;
receive identification information that is transmitted by the peripheral device;
assign a logical port identification for the peripheral device that transmitted the identification information and store said logical port identification and said identification information in memory;
thereafter direct communications for the peripheral device from client computers to said assigned logical port for such peripheral devices, wherein the communications are executed utilizing the client software. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification