Printer/client network with centrally updated printer drivers and printer status monitoring
First Claim
1. A network including a file server with plural client processors and plural printers connected to said file server via a network path, said network comprising:
- memory in each client processor for storing a printer driver procedure that enables communication between said client processor and at least one type printer;
memory in said file server for storing a library of most-updated printer driver procedures for each specific printer type of said plural printers, each printer driver procedure enabling a client processor to configure an output data stream that is recognized and operated upon by a specific printer type; and
processor means in said file server, responsive to a print message from a requesting client processor, to enable assignment of a printer of said one type to said requesting client processor, said processor means in combination with said requesting client processor further determining if said printer driver procedure for said printer of said one type stored in said requesting client processor is identical to a printer driver procedure for a printer of said one type stored in memory of said file server and, and in response to non-identical printer driver procedures, causing alteration of said printer driver procedure in said requesting client processor to bring said printer driver procedure into coincidence with said most updated printer driver procedure for the printer of said one type.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A network includes plural client processors, a file server and plural printers. Each client processor has memory that stores a printer driver procedure which enables the client processor to interface with at least one printer type. The file server includes memory for storing a most updated printer driver procedure for each printer type coupled to the file server. The file server is responsive to a print request from a client processor to assign a printer to the requesting client processor. The file server then in combination with the client processor determines if a printer driver procedure for the assigned printer in the client processor is identical to a most updated printer driver procedure stored in memory in the file server. If not, the file server enables alteration of the printer driver procedure in the client processor to bring it into coincidence with the most updated print driver procedure. A printer utility is also installed in each client processor and provides the means for automatically determining network status and for indicating to the user whether the network is available or unavailable, and a message indicating the reason for the unavailability.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A network including a file server with plural client processors and plural printers connected to said file server via a network path, said network comprising:
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memory in each client processor for storing a printer driver procedure that enables communication between said client processor and at least one type printer; memory in said file server for storing a library of most-updated printer driver procedures for each specific printer type of said plural printers, each printer driver procedure enabling a client processor to configure an output data stream that is recognized and operated upon by a specific printer type; and processor means in said file server, responsive to a print message from a requesting client processor, to enable assignment of a printer of said one type to said requesting client processor, said processor means in combination with said requesting client processor further determining if said printer driver procedure for said printer of said one type stored in said requesting client processor is identical to a printer driver procedure for a printer of said one type stored in memory of said file server and, and in response to non-identical printer driver procedures, causing alteration of said printer driver procedure in said requesting client processor to bring said printer driver procedure into coincidence with said most updated printer driver procedure for the printer of said one type. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification