Directory server for automatic network information access systems

• US 20050216602A1
• 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 8,205,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0236 Filtering by address, protocol, port number or service, e.g. IP-address or URL
• 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: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

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 directory server coupled to a first network, the first network coupled to a network device that comprises information identifying the network device on the first network, the directory server comprising:

a memory; and

a message processor adapted to register the identification information in a directory table in the memory.

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

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

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

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

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

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the directory server is coupled to the first network via a second network that comprises any of a wide area network, global network, public network, or the Internet.

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

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

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the identifying information comprises an address.

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

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first network is coupled to a second network, and the identifying information comprises an address of the first network on the second network.

14. A directory server coupled to a first network, the first network coupled to a network device that comprises information identifying an address of the network device on the first network, the directory server comprising:

a memory; and

a message processor adapted to receive an identification message from the network device, the identification message comprising the address, the message processor adapted to parse the identification message to retrieve the address and store the address in the memory.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the 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.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the network device comprises one of an inkjet printer, laser printer, wide format printer, or dot matrix printer.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the network device comprises an Internet protocol telephone.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the network device further comprises a network connection for coupling to the first network.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first network comprises a local area network.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first network comprises a plurality of interconnected networks.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first network is coupled to a second network that comprises any of a wide area network, global network, public network, or the Internet.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first network comprises a firewall, and the network device is located within the firewall.

23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first network comprises a firewall, and the directory server is located outside the firewall.

24. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first network is coupled to a second network, and the address comprises an address of the first network on the second network.