Method and apparatus for providing remote printer resource management
First Claim
1. A networked system including a host computer, a plurality of printers, and a communications network therebetween, said networked system comprising:
- (a) a host computer having a storage medium for holding data, a first memory circuit for temporary storage of data, a first communications port that receives and transmits data, a first processing circuit that controls the routing of data between said storage medium, said first memory circuit, and said first communications port;
(b) a first printer of said plurality of printers, said first printer having a bi-directional communications capability, a second memory circuit for storage of data including print job information, a second communications port that receives and transmits data, a first print engine, a second processing circuit that controls the routing of data between said second memory circuit and said second communications port, said second communications port being configured to transmit at least one packet of print job information stored in said second memory circuit to said communications network;
(c) said first communications port being configured to receive said at least one packet of print job information from said communications network, and said first memory circuit being configured to store said at least one packet of print job information;
(d) a second printer of said plurality of printers, said second printer having a bi-directional communications capability, a third memory circuit for storage of data including print job information, a said third communications port that receives and transmits data, a second print engine, a third processing circuit that controls the routing of data between said third memory circuit and said third communications port; and
(e) said first communications port being further configured to further transmit said at least one packet of print job information presently being stored in said first memory circuit, said third communications port being configured to receive said at least one packet of print job information from said communications network, and said third memory circuit being configured to store said at least one packet of print job information, wherein said first printer'"'"'s packet of print job information becomes stored in said third memory circuit, thereby copying said packet of print job information from said first printer to said second printer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved networked system having a host computer and multiple printers is provided in which the printers have a bi-directional data communications capability and have at least one memory device capable of storing print data and other types of data files. The host computer can be utilized by a user or a Network Administrator to "read" the contents of each memory device on each printer connected to the network that has the NPAP bi-directional communications capability. The user/Network Administrator can transfer a file from the memory of one of the printers on the network to the memory of a second of the printers on the network. When a given resource management function has been completed, an updated resource directory is automatically displayed at the host which includes all of the changes resulting from the earlier resource management function command. Once the printer receives an NPAP command of the type that accesses the resource management capabilities of the printer, the printer'"'"'s Emulation Manager will control the execution of the resource management function that has been received. The Emulation Manager communicates the command along with the required arguments to the Common File System, which performs the actual data manipulation of any of the files in the memory devices.
139 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A networked system including a host computer, a plurality of printers, and a communications network therebetween, said networked system comprising:
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(a) a host computer having a storage medium for holding data, a first memory circuit for temporary storage of data, a first communications port that receives and transmits data, a first processing circuit that controls the routing of data between said storage medium, said first memory circuit, and said first communications port; (b) a first printer of said plurality of printers, said first printer having a bi-directional communications capability, a second memory circuit for storage of data including print job information, a second communications port that receives and transmits data, a first print engine, a second processing circuit that controls the routing of data between said second memory circuit and said second communications port, said second communications port being configured to transmit at least one packet of print job information stored in said second memory circuit to said communications network; (c) said first communications port being configured to receive said at least one packet of print job information from said communications network, and said first memory circuit being configured to store said at least one packet of print job information; (d) a second printer of said plurality of printers, said second printer having a bi-directional communications capability, a third memory circuit for storage of data including print job information, a said third communications port that receives and transmits data, a second print engine, a third processing circuit that controls the routing of data between said third memory circuit and said third communications port; and (e) said first communications port being further configured to further transmit said at least one packet of print job information presently being stored in said first memory circuit, said third communications port being configured to receive said at least one packet of print job information from said communications network, and said third memory circuit being configured to store said at least one packet of print job information, wherein said first printer'"'"'s packet of print job information becomes stored in said third memory circuit, thereby copying said packet of print job information from said first printer to said second printer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A networked system including a host computer, a printer, and a communications network therebetween, said networked system comprising:
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(a) a host computer having a storage medium for holding data, a first memory circuit for temporary storage of data, a first communications port that receives and transmits data, a said first processing circuit that controls the routing of data between said storage medium, said first memory circuit, and said first communications port; (b) a printer having a bi-directional communications capability, a second memory circuit for storage of data including print job information, a second communications port that receives and transmits data, a print engine, a second processing circuit that controls the routing of data between said second memory circuit and said second communications port, said second communications port being configured to transmit and receive at least one packet of print job information stored in said second memory circuit to or from said communications network; (c) said first communications port being configured to receive said at least one packet of print job information from said communications network, and said first memory circuit being configured to store said at least one packet of print job information, wherein said printer'"'"'s packet of print job information becomes stored in said first memory circuit, thereby copying said packet of print job information from said printer to said host computer; (d) said host computer being configured to send a format command to said second memory circuit, via said communications network, and said second memory circuit being configured to be formatted upon receiving a format command via said communications network; and (e) said first communications port being further configured to further transmit said at least one packet of print job information presently being stored in said first memory circuit, said second communications port being further configured to receive said at least one packet of print job information from said communications network, and said second memory circuit being configured to store said at least one packet of print job information, wherein said host'"'"'s packet of print job information becomes stored in said second memory circuit, thereby copying said packet of print job information from said host computer to said printer. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification