Hard copy imaging systems, print server systems, and print server connectivity methods
First Claim
1. A hard copy imaging system, comprising:
- a first communications network configured to operate in a first communication link format;
a second communications network configured to operate in a second communication link format;
a plurality of hard imaging devices communicatively coupled to the first communications network;
an external device communicatively coupled to the second communications network, the external device being configured to forward a print request to at least one of the plurality of hard imaging devices for processing; and
a print server communicatively coupled to the plurality of hard imaging devices via the first communications network and to the external device via the second communications, network, the print server being configured to receive the print request from the external device in the second communication link format and automatically generate a translated print request in the first communication link format for processing by at least one of the plurality of hard imaging devices, the print server being further configured to automatically generate and communicate a signal to the external device, the signal being indicative of individual hard imaging devices among the plurality of hard imaging devices configured to be supported by the print server even if the plurality of hard imaging devices are not configured to support the second communication link format.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Aspects of the invention relate to hard copy imaging systems, print server systems, and print server connectivity methods. In one aspect, a hard copy imaging system includes a first communications network configured to operate in a first communication link format, a second communications network configured to operate in a second communication link format, a plurality of hard imaging devices communicatively coupled to the first communications network, and an external device communicatively coupled to the second communications network, the external device is configured to forward a print request to at least one of the plurality of hard imaging devices for processing. A print server is communicatively coupled to a plurality of hard imaging devices via the first communications network, and to the external device via the second communications network. The print server is configured to receive a print request from the external device in the second communication link format and generate a translated print request in the first communication link format for processing by at least one of the plurality of hard imaging devices. The print server is further configured to generate and communicate a signal to the external device, the signal being indicative of individual hard imaging devices among the plurality of hard imaging devices that are supported by the print server even if the plurality of hard imaging devices are not configured to support the second communication link format. Print server connectivity methods are also provided.
35 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A hard copy imaging system, comprising:
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a first communications network configured to operate in a first communication link format;
a second communications network configured to operate in a second communication link format;
a plurality of hard imaging devices communicatively coupled to the first communications network;
an external device communicatively coupled to the second communications network, the external device being configured to forward a print request to at least one of the plurality of hard imaging devices for processing; and
a print server communicatively coupled to the plurality of hard imaging devices via the first communications network and to the external device via the second communications, network, the print server being configured to receive the print request from the external device in the second communication link format and automatically generate a translated print request in the first communication link format for processing by at least one of the plurality of hard imaging devices, the print server being further configured to automatically generate and communicate a signal to the external device, the signal being indicative of individual hard imaging devices among the plurality of hard imaging devices configured to be supported by the print server even if the plurality of hard imaging devices are not configured to support the second communication link format. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A print server system, comprising:
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first and second communication networks configured to operate in distinct communication link formats;
a plurality of printers individually configured to process print requests;
an external device communicatively coupled to the second communications network, the external device configured to generate a print request for processing by at least one of the plurality of printers;
a print server communicatively coupled to the first and second communication networks, the print server being communicatively coupled to the plurality of printers via the first communications network and to the external device via the second communications network, the print server being configured to receive a print request from the external device in a second communication link format and generate a translated print request in a first communication link format that is different from the second communication link format, the translated print request being forwarded to at least one of the plurality of printers for processing, the print server being further configured to communicate with the external device with information regarding individual printers supported by the print server even if the individual printers are incompatible to directly process a print request from the external device, and the print server being configured to function as a proxy server for requests, from the external device, to enable functions not supported by the print server. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A printer server system comprising:
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a printer server means for communicatively coupling distinct communication networks to enable communication therebetween;
a first communication means for communicatively linking the print server means to a plurality of printers;
a second communication means for communicatively linking the print server to an external device; and
the print server means configured for receiving a print request from the external device in a second communication link format and automatically generating a translated print request, in a first communication link format that is different from the second communication link format, the translated print request being forwarded by the printer server means for processing by at least one of the plurality of printers, the print server means being configured for automatically generating and communicating a signal to the external device, the signal being indicative of individual printers among the plurality of printers that are supported by the print server means even if the plurality of printers are not configured to support the second communication link format. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A print server system comprising:
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a print server communicatively coupled to a plurality of printers via a first communications network and to an external device via a second communications network, the first and second communications networks being configured to operate using distinct communication link formats;
a communications interface being configured to communicate with the first and second communications networks;
a storage device being configured to store information related to the plurality of printers and instructions to process print requests received from the external device; and
processing circuitry configured to communicate with the external device and individual ones of the plurality of printers, wherein communication with the external device being performed using a second communication link format and communication with the individual ones of the plurality of printers being performed using a first communication link format that is different from the second communication link format, the processing circuitry including;
a volatile memory configured to store data for operation of the print server;
a non-volatile memory configured to store firmware data;
a plurality of physical layer components configured to convert print requests from a communication link format to another distinct communication link format; and
the print server being configured to receive a print request from the external device in the second communication link format and generate a translated print request in the first communication link format, the translated print request being forwarded to at least one of the plurality of printers for processing. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A method enabling communication between distinct communication networks operating in distinct communication link formats, the method comprising:
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communicatively coupling the distinct communication networks to a print server to enable communication therebetween via the print server;
communicatively linking the print server to a plurality of printers via a first communication network among the distinct communication networks;
communicatively linking the print server to an external device via a second communication network among the distinct communication networks;
configuring the print server to receive a print request from the external device in a second communication link format and generate a translated print request, in a first communication link format that is different from the second communication link format, for processing by at least one of the plurality of printers; and
configuring the print server to generate and communicate a signal to the external device, the signal including information of individual printers, among the plurality of printers, supported by the print server even if the plurality of hard printers are not configured to support the second communication link format. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An article of manufacture, comprising:
processor-usable media comprising programming configured to cause a print server apparatus of a print server system to;
receive a print request from an external device in a second communication link format;
generate a translated print request in a first communication link format that is different from the second communication link format for processing by individual ones of a plurality of printers; and
generate and communicate a signal to the external device, the signal being indicative of the individual printers supported by the print server even if the plurality of hard imaging devices are not configured to support the second communication link format. - View Dependent Claims (35)
Specification