Virtual printer

• US 5,638,497 A
• Filed: 07/01/1994
• Issued: 06/10/1997
• 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:
  US08/270,153
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 395/114, 395/112, 395/115, 395/116, 395/200.1, 395/200.16, 395/200.01, 395/828, 395/829, 395/834, 358/452, 358/444, 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 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0883 Semiautomatic configuration, e.g. proposals from system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security 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 coupled to a communications network link capable of carrying data for multiple print jobs directed to multiple respective network addresses, the method comprising the steps of:

associating a first network address with a first printer default configuration and a second network address with a second printer default configuration;

providing first print job data for a first print job;

directing the first print job data over the communications network link to a first network address associated with a first printer default configuration;

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

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

providing second print job data for a second print job;

directing the second print job data over the communications network link to a second network address associated with a second printer default configuration;

interrupting the operation of the printer upon the second print job data being directed to the second network address;

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

operating the printer in accordance with the second print job data and the default configuration associated with the second network address.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said default configuration associated with the first address includes an interrupt parameter for controlling the printer to interrupt the first print job upon the second print job data being directed to the second address.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

continuing the operation of the printer in accordance with the second print job data and the default configuration associated with the second address until completion of the second print job;

restoring the printer setting in accordance with the default configuration associated with the first address upon completion of the second print job.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, further comprising the step of continuing the operation of the printer in accordance with the first print job data and the default configuration associated with the first address until completion of the first print job.

5. A controller for setting a printer default configuration for a printer coupled to first and second user stations through a communications network link, wherein the first user station is adapted to direct print job data to a first network address through the communications network link for a first print operation, and wherein the second user station is adapted to direct print job data to a second network address through the communications network link for a second print operation, the controller comprising:

means for setting the printer in accordance with a first default configuration in response to the direction of print job data to the first Network address;

means for interrupting the first print operation upon the second print job data being directed to the second network address; and

means for setting the printer in accordance with a second default configuration in response to the direction of print job data to the second network address.

6. Apparatus for setting a printer default configuration for a printer coupled to a plurality of user stations through a communications network link, wherein each user station is adapted to direct print job data to first and second network addresses through the communications network link, the apparatus comprising:

means for associating the first network address with a first printer default configuration and for associating the second network address with a second printer default configuration;

means for setting the printer in accordance with the first default configuration in response to the direction of print job data to the first network address;

means for operating the printer in accordance with the first default configuration and the print job data directed to the first network address upon the printer being set in accordance with the first default configuration;

means for interrupting the operation of the printer upon the second print job data being directed to the second network address;

means for setting the printer in accordance with the second default configuration in response to the direction of print job data to the second network address; and

means for operating the printer in accordance with the second default configuration and the print job data directed to the second network address upon the printer being set in accordance with the second default configuration.

7. A printer adapted to be coupled to first and second user stations through a communications network link, wherein the first user station is adapted to direct print job data to a first network address through the communications network link for a first print operation, and wherein the second user station is adapted to direct print job data to a second network address through the communications network link for a second print operation, the printer comprising:

means for setting a first default configuration in response to the direction of print job data to the first network address;

means for interrupting the first print operation upon the second print job data being directed to the second network address; and

means for setting a second default configuration in response to the direction of print job data to the second network address.

8. A network comprising:

a communications network link,

first and second user stations, the first user station adapted to direct print job data to a first network address through the communications network link for a first print operation, and the second user station adapted to direct print job data to a second network address through the communications network link for a second print operation; and

a printer coupled to the communication network link, the printer comprising;

means for setting a first default configuration in response to the direction of print job data to the first network address;

means for interrupting the first print operation upon the second print job data being directed to the second network address; and

means for setting a second default configuration in response to the direction of print job data to the second network address.