Method and system for controlling the operation of a peripheral device in a network

• US 20030110270A1
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Copp, Larry A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,275,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00389 Programmable function keys, e.g. for one-touch operation H04N1/00387 takes precedence; for automation of transmitter jobs H04N1/32058
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

A method is provided for controlling the operation of a peripheral device having a control panel. The method includes the steps of requesting a description of the control panel from a first client and configuring the control panel to send a message to a second client.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the operation of a peripheral device coupled to a network, comprising the steps of remotely reprogramming a control panel of the peripheral device to send a message to a first client coupled to the network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of reprogramming includes the step of requesting a description of the control panel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of reprogramming further includes the step of constructing a viewable control panel based on the description of the control panel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of reprogramming is carried out on a second client different than the first client.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the peripheral device is one of a scanner and printer.

3. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of reprogramming further includes the step of configuring the control panel.

7. A method of controlling the operation of a peripheral device having a control panel, the method comprising the steps of:

requesting a description of the control panel from a first client; and

configuring the control panel to send a message to a second client.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of constructing a viewable control panel based on the description of the control panel.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the control panel includes at least one element.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the element is a button.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the element is a display.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the element is an LED.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the configuring step includes the step of redefining the button.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the configuring step includes the step of redefining the display.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the first client is different than the second client.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein the description of the control panel is in XML format.

17. The method of claim 7, wherein the peripheral device is one of a printer and scanner.

18. A method of remotely controlling a peripheral device coupled to computer via a network, comprising the steps of:

connecting the peripheral device to the network;

automatically sensing the presence of the peripheral device; and

enabling a user to remotely configure a control panel on the peripheral device to send a message to a client coupled to the peripheral device via the network.

19. A computer system comprising:

a network;

a client and a peripheral device connected thereto via the network, the peripheral device having a control panel; and

software installed on the system for performing a method of controlling the operation of a peripheral device, the method comprising the steps of;

requesting a description of the control panel from a first client; and

configuring the control panel to send a message to a second client.

20. A method of remotely controlling a peripheral device coupled to a client via a network, the client including a monitor, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a control panel to enable a user to interact and control the operation of the peripheral device; and

displaying the control panel on the monitor.

21. A program product for controlling the operation of a peripheral device coupled to a network, comprising machine-readable program code for causing a machine to perform the following method steps of remotely reprogramming a control panel of the peripheral device to send a message to a first client coupled to the network.

22. The program product of claim 21, wherein the step of reprogramming includes the step of requesting a description of the control panel.

23. The program product of claim 22, wherein the step of reprogramming further includes the step of configuring the control panel.

24. The program product of claim 21, wherein the step of reprogramming further includes the step of constructing a viewable control panel based on the description of the control panel.

25. The program product of claim 21, wherein the step of reprogramming is carried out on a second client different than the first client.

26. The program product of claim 21, wherein the peripheral device is one of a scanner and printer.

27. A program product for controlling the operation of a peripheral device having a control panel, including machine-readable program code for causing a machine to perform the following method steps:

requesting a description of the control panel from a first client; and

configuring the control panel to send a message to a second client.

28. The program product method of claim 27, further comprising code for causing the performance of the step of constructing a viewable control panel based on the description of the control panel.

29. The program product of claim 27, wherein the configuring step includes the step of redefining a button.

30. The program product of claim 27, wherein the configuring step includes the step of redefining a display.

31. A program product for remotely controlling a peripheral device coupled to computer via a network,:

automatically sensing the presence of a peripheral device on the network; and

enabling a user to remotely configure a control panel on the peripheral device to send a message to a client coupled to the peripheral device via the network.