Virtual printer

• US 5,371,837 A
• Filed: 03/23/1994
• Issued: 12/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DataProducts
• Original Assignee: DataProducts
• Inventors: Steen, Michael L., Russ, Allen E., Kimber, Charles M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, Arthur G.
• Application Number:
  US08/216,600
• Time in Patent Office: 258 Days
• Field of Search: 395/112, 395/114-116, 395/200, 395/500, 346/154, 400/61, 400/62, 400/70, 400/71, 400/76, 358/444, 358/452, 358/467
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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 3/123 Software or firmware update, e.g. device firmware management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1293 Printer information exchange with computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1297 Printer code translation, conversion, emulation, compression; Configuration of printer parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

A work station user selects a desired printer default configuration. Thereupon an address exclusively associated with the selected default configuration is appended to the print data sent from the work station to the printer. Default configuration setting circuitry provided, e.g., in a circuit card installed in the printer receives the address and, via a look-up table, provides instructions for implementing the default configuration associated with the address. The printer is then configured in accordance with the selected default configuration.

Claims

1. A method of setting a printer default configuration for a printer, the method comprising the steps of:

providing print job data;

directing the print job data to an address associated with a printer default configuration;

setting a printer in accordance with the default configuration associated with the address, in response to the direction of print job data to the address; and

operating the printer in accordance with the print job data and the default configuration associated with the address;

wherein the step of setting the printer comprises the steps of;

associating, in a look-up table, the address with a stored set of printer default configuration instructions; and

setting the printer in accordance with the set of printer default configuration instructions associated with the address.

2. A method of setting a printer default configuration for a printer, the method comprising the steps of:

providing print job data;

directing the print job data to an address associated with a printer default configuration;

setting a printer in accordance with the default configuration associated with the address, in response to the direction of print job data to the address; and

operating the printer in accordance with the print job data and the default configuration associated with the address;

wherein the step of directing the print job data comprises the step of transmitting a signal to the printer, the signal having a first component corresponding to the print job data and a second component corresponding to the selected address.

3. A method of setting the printer default configuration of a printer linked to a first data transmission station, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a look-up table and associated memory for a plurality of communications protocol addresses and a corresponding plurality of printer default configuration control instructions, wherein each communications protocol address is uniquely associated with a respective set of printer default configuration control instructions stored in the memory;

(b) selecting a first communications protocol address with the first data transmission station;

(c) directing a data signal for a first print job from the first data transmission station to the first communications protocol address;

(d) setting the default configuration of the printer in accordance with the printer default configuration control instructions associated in the look-up table with the first communications protocol address; and

(e) operating the printer in accordance with the first print job data and the default configuration associated with the first communications protocol address.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein a second data transmission station is linked to the printer, the method further comprising:

(f) selecting a second communications protocol address with the second data transmission station;

(g) directing a data signal for a second print job from the second data transmission station to the second communications protocol address; and

following step (e);

(h) setting the default configuration of the printer in accordance with the printer default configuration control instructions associated in the look-up table with the second communications protocol address; and

(i) operating the printer in accordance with the second print job data and the default configuration associated with the first communications protocol address.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein:

the step of directing a data signal for the first print job comprises the steps of appending a signal corresponding to the first communications protocol address to the data signal; and

transmitting the first print job data signal and appended address signal to the printer; and

the step of directing a data signal for the second print job comprises the steps of appending a signal corresponding to the second communications protocol address to the data signal; and

transmitting the second print job data signal and appended address signal to the printer.

6. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the step of directing a data signal for the first print job comprises the steps of:

appending a signal corresponding to the first communications protocol address to the data signal; and

transmitting the first print job data signal and appended address signal to the printer.

7. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein a second data transmission station is linked to the printer, the method further comprising:

(f) selecting a second communications protocol address with the second data transmission station;

(g) directing a data signal for a second print job from the second data transmission station to the second communications protocol address; and

(h) associating a respective priority with the first and second communications protocol addresses;

(i) determining which of the first and second communications protocol addresses has higher priority;

(j) setting the default configuration of the printer in accordance with the printer default configuration control instructions associated in the look-up table with the higher priority communications protocol address;

(k) operating the printer in accordance with the default configuration associated with the higher priority communications protocol address and in accordance with the print job data from the data transmission station with which the higher priority communications protocol address was selected.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein, after step (k), the method further comprises the steps of:

(l) setting the default configuration of the printer in accordance with the printer default configuration control instructions associated in the look-up table with the lower priority communications protocol address;

(m) operating the printer in accordance with the default configuration associated with the lower priority communications protocol address having and in accordance with the print job data from the user work station with which the lower priority communications protocol address was selected.

9. A method as recited in claim 4, further comprising the step of recording the amount of print units printed with the default configuration of the printer set in accordance with the printer default configuration control instructions associated with each of the first and second communications protocol address.

10. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the step of recording comprises recording at least one of the number of sheets printed, the number of bytes processed and the amount of image printed.

18. A method as recited in claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

storing print job context data for a stored set of printer default configuration instructions; and

recalling stored print job context data upon setting the printer in accordance with the set of printer default configuration instructions for which the print job context is stored.

11. Apparatus for setting the default configuration of a printer, the apparatus comprising:

an electronic circuit having a look-up table and associated memory for a plurality of communications protocol addresses and a corresponding plurality of printer default configuration control instructions, wherein each communications protocol address is uniquely associated in the look-up table with a respective set of printer default configuration control instructions stored in the memory;

a data transmission station having means for providing a data signal for a print job;

transmission means for transmitting the print job data signal to the selected address; and

default control means for setting the printer in accordance with the default configuration associated with the address.

17. Apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising means for recording first and second printing amount values, the first printing amount value corresponding to the amount of print units printed with the default configuration of the printer set in accordance with the set of printer default configuration control instruction associated with a first communications protocol address and the second printing amount value corresponding to the amount of print units printed with the default configuration of the printer set in accordance with the set of printer default configuration control instruction associated with a second communications protocol address.

12. In a network having at least one user work station and at least one printer station coupled to the user work station by a communications network link, the printer station including a printer responsive to a set of default configuration control instructions for setting the printer'"'"'s default configuration, the improvement comprising apparatus for controlling the printer'"'"'s default configuration including:

look-up table and associated memory circuitry, coupled to the network communications link, for a plurality of communications protocol addresses and a corresponding plurality of printer default configuration control instructions, wherein each communications protocol address is uniquely associated in the look-up table with a respective set of printer default configuration control instructions stored in the memory;

means, associated with the at least one user work station, for selecting a communications protocol address and transmitting a signal corresponding to print data to the selected communications protocol address, through the network communications link; and

means, associated with the look-up table circuitry, for providing the set of printer default configuration control instructions associated in the look-up table with the communications protocol address to which the print data signal is sent, for setting the printer'"'"'s default configuration.

13. Apparatus as recited in claim 12, further comprising

means for storing print job context for each printer default configuration;

and

means for recalling the print job context stored for a printer default configuration upon setting the printer with the printer default configuration.

14. Apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the print job context comprises print data corresponding to a blank form.

15. Apparatus as recited in claim 12, further comprising means for recording the amount of print units printed with the default configuration of the printer set in accordance with each respective set of printer default configuration control instructions included in the look-up table.

16. Apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the print units comprise at least one of the number of sheets printed, the number of bytes processed and the amount of page images printed.

19. Apparatus as recited in claim 12, further comprising means for recording multiple values, each respective value corresponding to the amount of print units printed with the default configuration of the printer set in accordance with a respective one of the sets of printer default configuration control instructions included in the look-up table.

20. A network comprising:

a communications network link;

a first data transmission station for transmitting first print job data on the communications network link to a first communications protocol address;

a second data transmission station for transmitting second print job data on the communications network link to a second communications protocol address;

at least one printer station coupled to the communications network link for receiving the first and second print job data, the printer station including a printer responsive to a set of configuration control instructions for setting the printer'"'"'s configuration;

table and associated memory circuitry for a plurality of communications protocol addresses and a corresponding plurality of printer configuration control instructions, wherein each communications protocol address, including each of the first and second communications protocol addresses, is associated in the table with a respective set of printer configuration control instructions stored in the memory;

said table and associated memory circuitry coupled to the network communications link, for providing the set of printer configuration control instructions associated in the table with the first communications protocol address, to set the printer'"'"'s configuration for the first print job data, and for providing the set of printer configuration control instructions associated in the table with the second communications protocol address, to set the printer'"'"'s configuration for the second print job data.

21. Apparatus as recited in claim 20, further comprising context data storage circuitry associated with the table and associated memory circuitry, for storing a print job context for the printer configuration associated in the table with the first communications protocol address and for recalling a stored print job context upon setting the printer with the printer configuration associated in the table with the first communications protocol address.

22. Apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein the print job context comprises print data corresponding to a blank form.

23. Apparatus as recited in claim 20, further comprising means for recording the amount of print units printed with the configuration of the printer set in accordance with each respective set of printer configuration control instructions included in the table.

24. Apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein the print units comprise at least one of the number of sheets printed, the number of bytes processed and the amount of page images printed.

25. Apparatus for setting the configuration of a printer coupled to a network having a plurality of data transmission stations, each data transmission station capable of directing a print job data signal to a communications protocol address different from the communication protocol address to which print job data signal from at least one other data transmission station is transmitted, the apparatus comprising:

a network communications link circuit responsive to a plurality of communications protocol addresses, for receiving print job data directed to any one of the plurality of communications protocol addresses;

a table and associated memory circuit for relating a plurality of communications protocol addresses to a corresponding plurality of printer configuration control instructions, wherein each communications protocol address is associated in the table with a respective set of printer control instructions stored in the memory, the table and associated memory circuit being operatively coupled to the network communications link circuit, to provide a set of printer configuration control instructions associated in the table with the communications protocol address to which each print job data received by the network communications link circuit is directed.

26. Apparatus as recited in claim 25, further comprising context data storage circuitry associated with the table and associated memory circuitry, for storing a print job context for the printer configuration associated in the table with one of said communications protocol addresses and for recalling a stored print job context upon setting the printer with the printer configuration associated in the table with said one communications protocol address.

27. Apparatus as recited in claim 26, wherein the print job context comprises print data corresponding to a blank form.

28. Apparatus as recited in claim 25, further comprising means for recording multiple printing amount values, each respective printing amount value corresponding to the amount of print units printed with the printer operating in accordance with a respective printer configuration.

29. Apparatus as recited in claim 28, wherein the print units comprise at least one of the number of sheets printed, the number of bytes processed and the amount of page images printed.

30. Apparatus as recited in claim 25, further comprising priority means for associating a respective priority with each respective communications protocol address and for controlling the table and associated memory circuit to provide sets of printer configuration control instructions in a chronological order, the chronological order being dependent upon the priorities associated with the communications protocol addresses that are associated in the table with the printer configuration control instructions provided by the priority means.

31. Printing apparatus operable to be coupled to a network having a plurality of data transmission stations, each data transmission station capable of directing a print job data signal to a communications protocol address different from the communication protocol address to which print job data signal from at least one other data transmission station is transmitted, the printing apparatus comprising:

a printer operable according to printer configuration control instructions for printing data corresponding to print job data signals;

a network communications link circuit responsive to a plurality of communications protocol addresses, for receiving print job data directed to any one of the plurality of communications protocol addresses;

a table and associated memory circuit for relating a plurality of communications protocol addresses to a corresponding plurality of printer configuration control instructions, wherein each communications protocol address is associated in the table with a respective set of printer control instructions stored in the memory, the table and associated memory circuit being operatively coupled to the network communications link circuit and the printer, to provide the printer with a set of printer configuration control instructions associated in the table with the communications protocol address to which each print job data received by the network communications link circuit is directed.

32. Apparatus as recited in claim 31, further comprising context data storage circuitry associated with the table and associated memory circuitry, for storing a print job context for the printer configuration associated in the table with one of said communications protocol addresses and for recalling a stored print job context upon providing the printer with the printer configuration associated in the table with said one communications protocol address.

33. Apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein the print job context comprises print data corresponding to a blank form.

34. Apparatus as recited in claim 31, further comprising means for recording multiple printing amount values, each respective printing amount value corresponding to the amount of print units printed with the printer operating in accordance with a respective printer configuration.

35. Apparatus as recited in claim 34, wherein the print units comprise at least one of the number of sheets printed, the number of bytes processed and the amount of page images printed.

36. Apparatus as recited in claim 31, further comprising priority means for associating a respective priority with each respective communications protocol address and for controlling the table and associated memory circuit to provide sets of printer configuration control instructions in a chronological order, the chronological order being dependent upon the priorities associated with the communications protocol addresses that are associated in the table with the printer configuration control instructions provided by the priority means.

37. Apparatus for setting a printer configuration for a printer in accordance with print job data directed to a communications protocol address associated with the printer, the apparatus comprising:

printer setting means for associating the communications protocol address to which the print job data is directed with a printer configuration and for setting the printer in accordance with the configuration associated with the communications protocol address, in response to the direction of print job data to the communications protocol address; and

printer operating means for operating the printer in accordance with the print job data and the configuration associated with the communications protocol address;

wherein the printer setting means comprises a table and associated memory circuit for relating a plurality of communications protocol addresses to a corresponding plurality of printer configuration control instructions, wherein each communications protocol address is associated in the table with a respective set of printer control instructions stored in the memory, the table and associated memory circuit being operatively coupled to the printer, to provide the printer with a set of printer configuration control instructions associated in the table with the communications protocol address to which the print job data is directed.

38. A network comprising:

a communications network link;

first and second data transmission stations, each coupled to the communications network link, for transmitting print job data over the communications network link to first and second communications protocol addresses, respectively;

a printer station coupled to the communications network link, responsive to print job data transmitted by said first and second data transmission stations over the communications network link to said first and second protocol addresses, respectively, and supporting at least a first and a second printer configuration, said printer station comprising a controller;

(a) for setting the printer station to said first printer configuration in response to print job data received from said first data transmission station over the communications network link to said first protocol address, and (b) for setting the printer station to said second printer configuration in response to print job data received from said second data transmission station over the communications network link to said second protocol address.

39. Apparatus for setting a printer configuration for a printer in accordance with print job data directed to a communications protocol address associated with the printer, the apparatus comprising a controller for associating the communications protocol address to which the print job data is directed with a printer configuration and for setting the printer in accordance with the configuration associated with the communications protocol address, in response to the direction of print job data to the communications protocol address, wherein the controller comprises a table and associated memory circuit for relating a plurality of communications protocol addresses to a corresponding plurality of printer configuration control instructions, wherein each communications protocol address is associated in the table with a respective set of printer control instructions stored in the memory, the table and associated memory circuit being operatively coupled to the printer, to provide the printer with a set of printer configuration control instructions associated in the table with the communications protocol address to which the print job data is directed.