Printing device having a built-in device driver
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- a printing device notifying a computing device that the printing device contains a built-in device driver that can be communicated to the computing device; and
the printing device communicating the device driver to the computing device.
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Abstract
A printing device contains a built-in device driver that is provided to one or more computers coupled to the printing device. The printing device is first coupled to a computer. The printing device notifies the computer that the printing device contains a built-in device driver that can be communicated to the computing device. The printing device communicates the device driver to the computing device in response to a request from the computing device to transmit the device driver. The printer may periodically update its built-in device driver by downloading an updated device driver from a server or other device.
184 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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a printing device notifying a computing device that the printing device contains a built-in device driver that can be communicated to the computing device; and
the printing device communicating the device driver to the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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coupling a printer to a first computing device, wherein the first computing device stores a current version of a printer driver associated with the printer;
determining whether the current version of the printer driver associated with the printer is more current than a printer driver contained in the printer;
if the current version of the printer driver associated with the printer is more current than the printer driver contained in the printer, then;
the printer retrieving the current version of the printer driver from the first computing device and replacing the previous printer driver contained in the printer with the current version of the printer driver; and
the printer communicating the current version of the printer driver to a second computing device coupled to the printer, wherein the second computing device communicates print jobs to the printer;
if the printer driver contained in the printer is the current version of the printer driver, then the printer communicates the printer driver to a second computing device coupled to the printer, wherein the second computing device communicates print jobs to the printer. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A printer comprising:
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an input device configured to receive data from a computing device coupled to the printer;
a print engine coupled to the input device and configured to communicate with the computing device, the print engine including a processor and a storage device, wherein the storage device contains a printer driver; and
an output device coupled to the print engine, wherein the print engine is further configured to communicate the printer driver to the computing device using the output device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification