Printer controlled default driver configuration

• US 20060170943A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Chapin, David M., Hanson, Mark L., Sheehan, Patrick Kevin, Edmonds, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 8,208,152 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.130
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1225 Software update, e.g. print driver, modules, plug-ins, fonts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00 Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00962 Input arrangements for operating instructions or parameters, e.g. updating internal software program loading in general G06F9/445; network-specific protocols involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34

Abstract

Methods and systems for permitting a rendering device, such as a printer, to be automatically configured at the time of device driver installation, regardless of the means utilized to install the driver are disclosed. In general, a device driver (e.g., a printer driver) is associated with the rendering device. The device driver includes a driver default configuration. The driver default configuration can be initially set in the rendering device via an embedded network server (e.g., an embedded web server) in the rendering device. The driver installer can then query the driver default configuration as set on the rendering device. The driver can then be automatically adjusted prior to the installation of the driver, in response to querying the driver default configuration by the driver installer. The rendering device can be implemented as a printer, a scanner, a multi-function device, a photocopy machine, and the like.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

setting a driver feature default configuration associated with a driver in a rendering device via an embedded network server, wherein said embedded network server communicates with said rendering device;

querying said rendering device for said driver feature default configuration stored in said rendering device;

automatically adjusting said driver feature default configuration prior to a use of said driver default configuration, in response to querying said rendering device; and

thereafter rendering a document via said rendering device based on said automatically adjusted driver feature default configuration unless otherwise modified by a user thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising modifying said driver feature default configuration after an installation of said driver feature default configuration.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising constraining a driver feature of said driver after an installation of said driver.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of initially associating said driver with said rendering device.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring said rendering device as a printer.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring said rendering device as a scanner.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring said rendering device as a multi-function rendering device.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising configuring said embedded network server as an embedded web server.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said embedded web server is physically a part of said rendering device.

10. A system, comprising:

a device driver associated with a rendering device, wherein said driver includes a driver default configuration;

an embedded network server, wherein said driver default configuration is initially set in said rendering device via said embedded network server, such that said embedded network server communicates with said rendering device;

an instruction module residing in a computer memory for querying said rendering device for said driver default configuration stored in said rendering; and

an instruction module residing in said computer memory for automatically adjusting said driver default configuration prior to a use of said driver default configuration, in response to querying said rendering device for said driver default configuration, thereby permitting a driver thereof to be automatically configured upon installation of said driver, regardless of the technique utilized to install said rendering device.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said rendering device comprises a printer.

12. The system of claim 10 further wherein said rendering device comprises a scanner.

13. The system of claim 10 further comprising configuring said rendering device as a multi-function rendering device.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein said embedded network server comprises an embedded web server.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein said embedded web server resides in said rendering device.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein each of said instruction modules is processible upon an initial use of said driver.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein said network comprise a peer-to-peer network.

18. A system, comprising:

a data page stored in a rendering device having driver settings thereof, wherein said data page allows a user to configure all or at least a subset of said driver settings of said rendering device by selecting from among a group of settings for configuring said driver settings;

at least one data file that is downloadable from said rendering device, wherein said data file contains said settings;

a configuration tool for managing downloading of said data file from said rendering device and parsing said data file for features that a driver requires for pre-configuring said rendering device; and

wherein said driver parses and alters said settings associated with said rendering device and thereafter completes an installation of said rendering device.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said at least one data file comprises an XML-based file.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said at least one data file is accessible via an embedded network server that forms a part of said printer.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein said settings associated with said rendering device are modifiable after said installation of said rendering device.

22. The system of claim 18 wherein said settings associated with said rendering device are constrainable after said installation of said rendering device.