Network scanner contention handling method
First Claim
1. A method of supporting at least one peripheral in a network including at least one client with a general purpose software capability and a server connected to the peripheral, the method comprising steps of:
- the server waiting for a client to attempt to open a connection with the peripheral;
the client sending a peripheral connection request to the server;
the server accepting connection with the client via exchange of data packets;
the server determining availability of the peripheral and locking the peripheral so that it cannot be used by other clients;
the server opening a connection with the peripheral if it is available and notifying the client of the peripheral availability;
the server waiting for predetermined data from the client, which when received, results in the client having control of the peripheral for at least a first predetermined time period;
the server waiting for data from the peripheral and when received sends the data to the client;
the server closing the connection with the client upon completion of sending the data to the client.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A network peripheral support method including a client with a general purpose software capability and a server connected to the peripheral. The server of the present invention waits for a client to attempt to open a connection with the peripheral. The client sends a peripheral connection request via a data packet to the server, and the server accepts the connection. The server determines an availability of the peripheral and locks the peripheral so that it cannot be used by other clients. Thereafter, the server opens a connection with the peripheral, if it is available, and notifies the client of the peripheral availability. The server then waits for predetermined data from the client, which when received, results in the client having control of the peripheral for at least a first predetermined time period, and when received sends the data to the client. The server closes the connection with the client upon completion of sending the data to the client.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A method of supporting at least one peripheral in a network including at least one client with a general purpose software capability and a server connected to the peripheral, the method comprising steps of:
-
the server waiting for a client to attempt to open a connection with the peripheral;
the client sending a peripheral connection request to the server;
the server accepting connection with the client via exchange of data packets;
the server determining availability of the peripheral and locking the peripheral so that it cannot be used by other clients;
the server opening a connection with the peripheral if it is available and notifying the client of the peripheral availability;
the server waiting for predetermined data from the client, which when received, results in the client having control of the peripheral for at least a first predetermined time period;
the server waiting for data from the peripheral and when received sends the data to the client;
the server closing the connection with the client upon completion of sending the data to the client. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method of supporting a scan peripheral on a network having at least one client with a general purpose software capability and a server connected to the peripheral, the method comprising steps of:
-
the server waiting for a client to attempt to open a connection with the peripheral;
the client discovering the address of the server;
the client sending a scan peripheral connection request to the server;
the server accepting connection with the client;
the server determining the busy or idle status of the peripheral and locking the peripheral when it has an idle status so that it cannot be used by other clients;
the server opening a connection with the peripheral if it is idle and notifying the client of the peripheral idle status;
the server waiting for predetermined data from the client which when received, results in the client having control of the peripheral for at least a first predetermined time period during which the client can initiate a scan operation by the peripheral;
the server waiting for data from the peripheral and when received sends the data to the client;
the server closing the connection with the client upon completion of sending the data to the client. - View Dependent Claims (14)
-
-
15. A server for supporting the operation of a scan peripheral connected in a network having at least one client with a general purpose software capability, the server being connected to the scan peripheral via the network, the server comprising:
-
means for responding to a client generated scan request and accepting a connection with the client;
means for accepting a connection from the client;
means for determining the busy or idle status of the peripheral and locking the peripheral when it has an idle status so that it cannot be used by other clients, and for opening a connection with the peripheral if it is idle and notifying the client of the peripheral idle status;
means for providing control of the peripheral for at least a first predetermined time period during which the client can initiate a scan operation by the peripheral responsive to the server receiving predetermined data from the client;
the server being adapted to wait for data from the peripheral and send the data to the client when received;
the server closing the connection with the client upon completion of sending the data to the client.
-
Specification