Systems for providing information access to network devices

• US 20050216483A1
• Filed: 03/24/2004
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fiery LLC
• Original Assignee: Electronics For Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: Armstrong, John, Thu, Victor, Tenenbaum, Ofer
• Granted Patent: US 7,653,683 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Systems, apparatus and methods are described for providing information access to network devices. A directory server registers identification information about a first network device coupled to a first network. The first network and the directory server may be coupled to a second network, which may include a wide area network, public network, or the Internet. The identification information may include a network address of the first network device on the first network, or a network address of the first network on the second network. The directory server may receive and process requests for identification information about registered network devices, and may selectively reply to the requests based on status information of the first network device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first network device coupled to a first network, the first network coupled to a second network, the first network device comprising information identifying the first network device on the first network; and

a directory server coupled to the second network, the directory server adapted to register the identification information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network device comprises one of a computer, personal digital assistant, pager, cellular telephone, handheld messaging device, facsimile machine, copier, printer, telephone, security camera, household appliance, vending machine, kiosk, or digital camera.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network device comprises one of an inkjet printer, laser printer, wide format printer, or dot matrix printer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network device comprises an Internet protocol telephone.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network device comprises a network connection for coupling to the first network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network comprises a local area network.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network comprises a plurality of interconnected networks.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second network comprises any of a wide area network, global network, public network, or the Internet.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network comprises a firewall, and the first network device is located within the firewall.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first network comprises a firewall, and the directory server is located outside the firewall.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the directory server is coupled to a third network.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifying information comprises an address.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifying information comprises an address of the first network device on the first network.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifying information comprises an address of the first network on the second network.

15. A system comprising:

first and second network devices coupled to a first network, the first network coupled to a second network, the first network device comprising first information identifying the first network device on the first network, the second network device comprising second information identifying the second network device on the first network; and

a directory server coupled to the second network, the directory server adapted to register the first and second identification information.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first and second network devices each comprise one of a computer, personal digital assistant, pager, cellular telephone, handheld messaging device, facsimile machine, copier, printer, telephone, security camera, household appliance, vending machine, kiosk, or digital camera.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the first network device comprises a computer and the second network device comprises one of an inkjet printer, laser printer, wide format printer, or dot matrix printer.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the first network device comprises a computer and the second network device comprises an Internet protocol telephone.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the first and second network devices each comprise a network connection for coupling to the first network.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the first network comprises a local area network.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the first network comprises a plurality of interconnected networks.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the second network comprises any of a wide area network, global network, public network, or the Internet.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the first network comprises a firewall, and the first and second network devices are located within the firewall.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the first network comprises a firewall, and the directory server is located outside the firewall.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the directory server is coupled to a third network.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein the first and second identifying information each comprises an address.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein the first identifying information comprises an address of the first network device on the first network and the second identifying information comprises an address of the second network device on the first network.

28. The system of claim 15, wherein the first and second identifying information comprises an address of the first network on the second network.

29. A system comprising:

first and second network devices coupled to a first network, the first network coupled to a second network, the first network device comprising first information identifying the first network device on the first network, the second computer device comprising second information identifying the second network device on the first network;

a directory server coupled to the second network, the directory server adapted to register the first and second identification information, and adapted to process requests for identification information about registered network devices.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the first and second network devices each comprise one of a computer, personal digital assistant, pager, cellular telephone, handheld messaging device, facsimile machine, copier, printer, telephone, security camera, household appliance, vending machine, kiosk, or digital camera.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the first network device comprises a computer and the second network device comprises one of an inkjet printer, laser printer, wide format printer, or dot matrix printer.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the first network device comprises a computer and the second network device comprises an Internet protocol telephone.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the first and second network devices each comprise a network connection for coupling to the first network.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the first network comprises a local area network.

35. The system of claim 29, wherein the first network comprises a plurality of interconnected networks.

36. The system of claim 29, wherein the second network comprises any of a wide area network, global network, public network, or the Internet.

37. The system of claim 29, wherein the first network comprises a firewall, and the first and second network devices are located within the firewall.

38. The system of claim 29, wherein the first network comprises a firewall, and the directory server is located outside the firewall.

39. The system of claim 29, wherein the directory server is coupled to a third network.

40. The system of claim 29, wherein the first and second identifying information each comprises an address.

41. The system of claim 29, wherein the first identifying information comprises an address of the first network device on the first network and the second identifying information comprises an address of the second network device on the first network.

42. The system of claim 29, wherein the first and second identifying information comprises an address of the first network on the second network.