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Method and apparatus for managing access to a networked peripheral

  • US 5,647,056 A
  • Filed: 11/18/1992
  • Issued: 07/08/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for managing access to a peripheral over a local area network with an interactive network board connectable to the peripheral via a bi-directional peripheral interface and connectable to the local area network via a local area network interface, the method comprising the steps of:

  • executing an access management program, which includes a socket server program, on the interactive network board, said socket server program including process steps to monitor a proprietary socket number for network communication to the proprietary socket, as well as process steps to issue commands to change operational and configuration status of the peripheral and to issue requests for current operational and configuration status of the peripheral;

    monitoring, with said socket server program, the proprietary socket number to detect network communications directed by a client to the proprietary socket;

    establishing direct communication via the proprietary socket between the socket server and the client so as to receive network communications;

    commanding, with said socket server program via the bi-directional interface and in response to first ones of received network communications, the peripheral to change its operational and configuration status;

    commanding, with said socket server program via the bi-directional interface and in response to second ones of received network communications, the peripheral to transmit its current operational and configuration status;

    monitoring, with said socket server program, the bi-directional peripheral interface to detect and store current operational and configuration status transmitted from the peripheral; and

    outputting, with said socket server program, the current operational and configuration status transmitted from the peripheral onto the local area network in response to the second ones of the received network communications.

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