System for an interactive network board remotely configurable by selecting from a plurality of functionality defining software, such as a printer server stored in prom
First Claim
1. Apparatus for forming an operational configuration of an interactive network board coupled to a LAN peripheral, comprising:
- a RAM disposed on said board;
a PROM, disposed on said board, for storing (a) a plurality of executable software modules, each of which defines operational functionality of the board, and which are capable of setting the board in plural different operational configurations when predetermined software modules are arranged in different combinations, and (b) a loader module;
an NVRAM for storing configuration information downloaded from a remote location which designates which of the plurality of software modules should be arranged in combination so as to set the board in one of the plural different operational configurations; and
a processor, disposed on said board, for (1) reading the configuration information from the NVRAM, (2) executing the loader module to provide a configuration mask comprising a bit pattern which corresponds to the read configuration information, (3) applying the configuration mask to the executable software modules stored in PROM, (4) selecting those executable software modules which correspond to the bit pattern of the configuration mask, (5) copying the selected software modules from the PROM to the RAM, and (6) executing the software modules stored in the RAM to place the interactive network board in the operational configuration which corresponds to the configuration information stored in the NVRAM.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In an interactive network board, method and apparatus for forming an operational configuration of the board coupled to a LAN printer makes use of a RAM and an NVRAM disposed on the board. The NVRAM stores configuration information. Use is made of a PROM, also disposed on the board, for storing a loader module, and a plurality of configuration modules capable of setting the board in a plurality of different operational configurations when predetermined configuration modules are arranged in different combinations. A processor is also disposed on the board for reading the configuration information from the NVRAM to the RAM, and executing the loader module to provide a configuration mask which corresponds to the read configuration information. The processor applies the configuration mask to the configuration module stored in PROM, and selects those configuration modules which correspond to the configuration mask. The processor then copies the selected configuration modules to the RAM and executes the selected configuration modules in RAM to place the board in an operational configuration which corresponds to the configuration information stored in the NVRAM.
-
Citations
28 Claims
-
1. Apparatus for forming an operational configuration of an interactive network board coupled to a LAN peripheral, comprising:
-
a RAM disposed on said board; a PROM, disposed on said board, for storing (a) a plurality of executable software modules, each of which defines operational functionality of the board, and which are capable of setting the board in plural different operational configurations when predetermined software modules are arranged in different combinations, and (b) a loader module; an NVRAM for storing configuration information downloaded from a remote location which designates which of the plurality of software modules should be arranged in combination so as to set the board in one of the plural different operational configurations; and a processor, disposed on said board, for (1) reading the configuration information from the NVRAM, (2) executing the loader module to provide a configuration mask comprising a bit pattern which corresponds to the read configuration information, (3) applying the configuration mask to the executable software modules stored in PROM, (4) selecting those executable software modules which correspond to the bit pattern of the configuration mask, (5) copying the selected software modules from the PROM to the RAM, and (6) executing the software modules stored in the RAM to place the interactive network board in the operational configuration which corresponds to the configuration information stored in the NVRAM. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 21, 22)
-
-
5. Apparatus for setting an operational configuration of an interactive network board coupled to a LAN, using a configuration command received over the LAN, said interactive network board being coupled to a LAN printer, comprising:
-
a LAN interface for receiving the configuration command from a remote location over the LAN; a RAM disposed on said board; a PROM, disposed on said board, for storing (a) a plurality of executable software modules, each of which defines operational functionality of the board, and which are capable of setting the board in plural different operational configurations when predetermined software modules are arranged in different combinations, and (b) a loader module; an NVRAM for storing configuration information corresponding to the configuration command received from the remote location over the LAN via said LAN interface, the configuration information designating which of the plurality of software modules should be arranged in combination so as to set the board in one of the plural different operational configurations; and a processor, disposed on said board, for (1) reading the configuration information from the NVRAM, (2) executing the loader module to provide a configuration mask comprising a bit pattern which corresponds to the read configuration information, (3) applying the configuration mask to the executable software modules stored in PROM, (4) selecting those software modules which correspond to the bit pattern, (5) copying the selected software modules from the PROM to the RAM, and (6) executing the software modules stored in the RAM to set the board in the operational configuration which corresponds to the configuration information stored in the NVRAM. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 23, 24)
-
-
9. Apparatus for configuring an interactive, LAN-coupled board into one of plural different operational configurations, comprising:
-
a RAM disposed on said board; an NVRAM for storing configuration designation information downloaded from a remote location corresponding to one of said plural different operational configurations; a PROM disposed on said board and storing (a) a plurality of executable software modules which are capable of configuring said board in said plural different operational configurations, and (b) an execution module for loading selected ones of said software modules into said RAM and executing the loaded modules; and a processor, disposed on said board, for (1) reading said configuration designation information from said NVRAM, (2) selecting at least one software module in PROM which corresponds to the read configuration designation information, (3) storing the selected software module in said RAM, and (4) executing the stored software module in said RAM to set the board in the operational configuration corresponding to the configuration designation information stored in said NVRAM. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 25, 26)
-
-
12. A method of forming an operational configuration of an interactive network board coupled to a printer and having a processor, a PROM, an NVRAM, and a RAM, comprising the steps of:
-
upon power-up of said board, reading configuration information stored in said NVRAM, the configuration information having been downloaded from a remote location; providing a configuration mask from the read configuration information using a PROM-resident loader program, the configuration mask including a plurality of bits arranged in a pattern determined by the read configuration information; applying the configuration mask to a plurality of executable software modules stored in the PROM, and selecting those software modules which correspond to the bit pattern of the configuration mask; storing the selected software modules in the RAM; and executing, from the RAM, the selected software modules now stored in the RAM, whereby the board is set in said operational configuration. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 27)
-
-
17. A method of setting a configuration which defines an operational mode of a interactive network board having a ROM, an NVRAM, and a RAM, comprising the steps of:
-
sending a configuration command over the LAN network to the board; storing a binary configuration code which corresponds to the configuration command in the NVRAM; booting up the network board; reading the configuration code from the NVRAM using ROM-resident power-up process steps; using the ROM-resident process steps, selecting ROM-resident executable software modules in accordance with the configuration code read from the NVRAM, wherein the software modules are selected in bit-wise correspondence to the binary digits of the configuration code; and storing the selected software modules into the RAM. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 28)
-
Specification