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Method and apparatus for providing information on a managed peripheral device to plural agents

  • US 5,740,368 A
  • Filed: 06/30/1995
  • Issued: 04/14/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a computer system having plural processing modules and at least one peripheral device coupled via a network, each processing module including a manager for managing the at least one peripheral device using a predetermined one of plural management protocols and the at least one peripheral device having plural agents each using a different one of the predetermined management protocols for exchanging management information with the managers over the network, apparatus for interfacing the plural agents with the managed peripheral device, comprising:

  • receiving means for receiving an information request from the one of the plural agents operating under the same management protocol as the management protocol of a manager requesting information;

    determining means for determining whether the information request is for local information stored on the apparatus or for information stored on the managed peripheral device;

    sending means for sending a calling signal to the managed peripheral device for information on the managed peripheral device in a case that the information request is for information on the managed peripheral device;

    receiving means for receiving information signals from the managed peripheral device in response to the calling signal;

    generating means for generating data on the managed peripheral device in response to the information signals in the case that the information request is for information on the managed peripheral device; and

    sending means for sending, to the one of the plural agents operating under the same management protocol as the requesting manager, (1) the data generated by the generating means in the case that the information request is for information on the managed peripheral device, and (2) local information in the case that the information request is for local information.

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