Administration of networked peripherals using particular file system

• US 6,321,258 B1
• Filed: 12/11/1997
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Eamon, Robert R. Jr., Stollfus, Brennen W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrell, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLETT, STEPHAN F
• Application Number:
  US08/988,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20010052004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/220, 709/225, 709/229, 709/230, 709/232, 709/201, 709/202, 709/203
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A computer system having client workstations, a shared peripheral, and a web server on a local area network permits administration of the peripheral from the workstation. Administration includes initial installation of the peripheral, obtaining operating status, and reviewing periodic maintenance. The web server includes a general purpose administrator program and modular data files stored in predetermined directories. The administrator interprets modular data files for parametric values used to identify, query for status, and configure the peripheral without foreknowledge of its type. Modular data files conform to a file structure that includes conditional and inheritance expressions so that references to other modular data files and graphic files are resolved dynamically. In one variation, needed modular data files are obtained from the Internet when new or upgraded peripheral equipment is identified on the local area network.

Claims

1. A method performed by a server for resource administration, the server coupled to the resource by a network, the server comprising a file system comprising a first file, the first file comprising instructions for performing the method, the method comprising:

accessing the network to receive identification of the resource;

accessing a second file in accordance with the identification;

interpreting a record read from the second file, the record comprising indicia of an external parameter, indicia of an address, indica of an expected value, and indicia of a constant, indicia of the external parameter being absent from the instructions of the first file;

sending the address via the network to obtain a message, the resource providing the message in response to the address;

if the message corresponds to the indicia of the expected value, identifying a memory in accordance with the indicia of the external parameter and storing a value in the memory in accordance with the indicia of the constant; and

reporting status of the resource in accordance with the value.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of reporting further comprises sending status of the resource to a workstation coupled to the network for presentation by a browser on the workstation.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the file system further comprises a directory name and the step of accessing the second file further comprises identifying the directory name in accordance with the identification.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of accessing the second file further comprises:

accessing a third file from a second server coupled to the network; and

updating the record in accordance with the third file before interpreting the record.

4. A method performed by a server for resource administration, the server coupled to the resource by a network, the server comprising a file system comprising a first file, the first file comprising instructions for performing the method, the method comprising:

accessing the network to receive identification of the resource; and

accessing a second file in accordance with the identification;

interpreting a first record read from the second file, the first record comprising indicia of a reference;

accessing a third file in accordance with the reference;

interpreting a second record read from the third file, the second record comprising indicia of an external parameter, indicia of an address, indicia of an expected value, and indicia of a constant, the indicia of the external parameter being absent from the instructions of the first file;

sending the address via the network to obtain a message, the resource providing the message in response to the address;

if the message corresponds to the indicia of the expected value, identifying a memory in accordance with the indicia of the external parameter and storing a value in the memory in accordance with the indicia of the constant; and

reporting status of the resource in accordance with the value.

6. A data storage medium comprising machine readable indicia recorded on the medium, the indicia comprising:

a. a file system comprising a first filename and a second filename;

b. a first file, identified by the first filename, the first file comprising a description of a status of a resource; and

c. a second file, identified by the second filename, the second file comprising indicia of an external parameter, indicia of an address, indicia of an expected value, and indicia of a constant, the address for obtaining a message from the resource, and the constant for determining the first filename for reporting the description of the status of the resource in accordance with the indicia of the external parameter when the message corresponds to the indicia of the expected value.

7. The medium of claim 6 wherein the second file comprises a plurality of records, each record respectively comprising indicia of an external parameter, indicia of an address, indicia of an expected value, and indicia of a constant, the plurality arranged for sequential search for desired indicia of the external parameter.

8. The medium of claim 6 wherein the second file further comprises a conditional expression, the conditional expression supplying a second address and a value, the second address for obtaining a second message from the resource, the conditional expression for identifying the indicia of the external parameter when the second message compares favorably with the value.

9. The medium of claim 8 wherein the conditional expression is preceded by a header having a predetermined value for use by the program to access the conditional expression.

10. The medium of claim 8 wherein the second file further comprises a second conditional expression identified by the indicia of the external parameter.

11. The medium of claim 10 wherein the second file comprises a record comprising the second conditional expression and the indicia of the address.

12. The medium of claim 6 wherein the second file further comprises a string, identified by the indicia of the external parameter, the string for identifying a second description of the status of the resource.

13. The medium of claim 6 wherein the description comprises a graphics data format.

14. The medium of claim 13 wherein the medium further comprises other data comprising the graphics data format for combination with the description.

15. A data storage medium for use in a computer system to assist a user to accomplish at least one of installing, reconfiguring, upgrading, managing, and monitoring operation of a resource of the computer system, the medium comprising machine readable indicia recorded on the medium, the indicia comprising:

a. a file system comprising a first, a second, and a third filename;

b. a first data structure, identified by the first filename, that supplies a first external parameter to a provided resource administration program for determining the second filename, the program developed without foreknowledge of the first external parameter;

c. a second data structure, identified by the second filename, that supplies a second external parameter and an address for obtaining a message from the resource at the address; and

d. a file, identified by the third filename, that supplies to the program a description of a status of the resource, the third filename identified by the second external parameter in response to the message, the program for reporting the status responsive to the description, wherein reporting facilitates at least one of installing, reconfiguring, upgrading, managing, and monitoring operation of the resource.

16. The medium of claim 15 wherein the first data structure and the second data structure are accessed by the program by sequential search.

17. The medium of claim 15 wherein the second data structure comprises a conditional expression, the conditional expression supplying a second address and a value to the program for obtaining a second message from the resource at the second address, the conditional expression for supplying the description when the second message compares favorably with the value.

18. The medium of claim 17 wherein the conditional expression further comprises a logical operator.

19. The medium of claim 15 wherein the data structure further comprises a string, identified by the external parameter, that supplies to the program a second description of the status of the resource, the program for reporting the status in further response to the second description.

20. The medium of claim 15 wherein the description comprises a graphics data format.

21. A method performed by a server for resource administration, the server comprising a file system comprising a first file, the first file comprising instructions for performing the method, the method comprising:

sending a first message to obtain an identification of a resource, the identification provided by the resource for facilitating access to a second file, sending accomplished via a network, the resource providing the first message in response to the address, wherein the server, the network, and the resource are part of a computer system;

accessing the second file in accordance with the identification of the resource to obtain a first conditional expression, the second file comprising a data structure, the data structure comprising the first conditional expression, an identification of a feature, a second conditional expression, and an address;

evaluating the first conditional expression to obtain the identification of the feature;

accessing the second file in accordance with the identification of the feature to obtain the second conditional expression;

sending the address to the resource to obtain a second message provided by the resource, the second message comprising a value of a parameter, the second message being provided in response to receiving an address that identifies the parameter;

evaluating the second conditional expression in accordance with the value of the parameter received with the second message; and

reporting status of the resource in accordance with evaluation of the second conditional expression.

22. A data storage medium comprising machine readable indicia recorded on the medium, the indicia comprising:

a. a file system comprising a first filename and a second filename;

b. a data structure, identified by the first filename, that supplies a first value and an address to a provided computer program, the program developed without foreknowledge of the first value and the address, the computer program for obtaining a second value from a provided resource, the second value being identified by the address; and

c. a file, identified by the second filename, that supplies to the program a description of a status of the resource, the second filename determined in accordance with the first value, the program for reporting the status in accordance with the description and the second value.

23. A data storage medium comprising machine readable indicia recorded on the medium, the indicia comprising:

a. a file system comprising a first, a second, and a third filename;

b. a first data structure, identified by the first filename, that supplies a first value to a provided computer program for determining the second filename, the program developed without foreknowledge of the first value;

c. a second data structure, identified by the second filename, that supplies to the program a second value and an address, the program for obtaining a third value from a provided resource, the third value being identified by the address; and

d. a file, identified by the third filename, that supplies to the program a description of a status of the resource, the third filename identified by the second value, the program for reporting the status in accordance with the description and the third value.

24. A method performed by a first server for resource administration, the first server coupled to the resource by a network, the first server comprising a file system comprising a first file, the first file comprising instructions for performing the method, the method comprising:

a. performing a step for accessing the network to receive identification of the resource;

b. performing a step for accessing a second file in accordance with the identification;

c. performing a step for interpreting a record read from the second file, the record comprising indicia of an external parameter, indicia of an address, indica of an expected value, and indicia of a constant, the indicia of the external parameter being absent from the instructions of the first file;

d. performing a step for sending the address via the network to obtain a message, the resource providing the message in response to the address;

e. if the message corresponds to the indicia of the expected value, performing a step for identifying a memory in accordance with the indicia of the external parameter and storing a value in the memory in accordance with the indicia of the constant; and

f. performing a step for reporting status of the resource in accordance with the value.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the step for reporting further comprises a step for sending status of the resource to a workstation coupled to the network for presentation by a browser on the workstation.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein:

the file system further comprise a directory name; and

the step for accessing the second file further comprises a step for identifying the directory name in accordance with the identification.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein the step for accessing the second file further comprises:

performing a step for accessing a third file from a second server coupled to the network; and

performing a step for updating the record in accordance with the third file before interpreting the record.

27. A method performed by a server for resource administration, the server coupled to the resource by a network, the server comprising a file system comprising a first file, the first file comprising instructions for performing the method, the method comprising:

performing a step for accessing the network to receive identification of the resource;

performing a step for accessing a second file in accordance with the identification;

performing a step for interpreting a first record read from the second file, the record comprising indicia of a reference;

performing a step for accessing a third file in accordance with the reference;

performing a step for interpreting a second record read from the third file, the record comprising indicia of an external parameter, indicia of an address, indica of an expected value, and indicia of a constant, the indicia of the external parameter being absent from the instructions of the first file;

performing a step for sending the address via the network to obtain a message, the resource providing the message in response to the address;

if the message corresponds to the indicia of the expected value, performing a step for identifying a memory in accordance with the indicia of the external parameter and storing a value in the memory in accordance with the indicia of the constant; and

performing a step for reporting status of the resource in accordance with the value.

29. A programmed product recorded on at least one medium, the product comprising:

a. means for indicating a first filename and a second filename;

b. first means for storing a description of a status of a resource, the first means being identified by the first filename; and

c. second means for storing an external parameter, an address, an expected value, and a constant, the address for obtaining a message from the resource, and the constant for determining the first filename for reporting the description of the status of the resource in accordance with the external parameter when the message corresponds to the expected value, the second means being identified by the second filename.

30. The programmed product of claim 29 wherein the second means for storing comprises a plurality of records, each record respectively comprising an external parameter, an address, an expected value, and a constant, the plurality arranged for sequential search for the desired external parameter.

31. The programmed product of claim 29 wherein the second means for storing further comprises a conditional expression, the conditional expression supplying a second address and a value, the second address for obtaining a second message from the resource, the conditional expression for identifying the external parameter when the second message compares favorably with the value.

32. The programmed product of claim 31 wherein the conditional expression is preceded by a header having a predetermined value for accessing the conditional expression.

33. The programmed product of claim 31 wherein the second means for storing further comprises a second conditional expression identified by the external parameter.

34. The programmed product of claim 33 wherein the second means for storing comprises a record comprising the second conditional expression and the address.

35. The programmed product of claim 29 wherein the second means for storing further comprises a string, identified by the external parameter, the string for identifying a second description of the status of the resource.

36. The programmed product of claim 29 wherein the description comprises a graphics data format.

37. The programmed product of claim 36 further comprising other data comprising the graphics data format, the description being arranged for combination with the other data.

38. A programmed product for use in a computer system to assist a user to accomplish at least one of installing, reconfiguring, upgrading, managing, and monitoring operation of a resource of the computer system, the programmed product comprising machine readable indicia recorded on at least one medium, the programmed product comprising:

a. means for indicating a first, a second, and a third filename;

b. first means for supplying a first external parameter to a provided resource administration program for determining the second filename, the resource administration program developed without foreknowledge of the first external parameter, the first means being identified by the first filename;

c. second means for supplying a second external parameter and an address for obtaining a message from the resource at the address, the second means being identified by the second filename; and

d third means for supplying to the resource administration program a description of a status of the resource, the third means for supplying being identified by the third filename, the third filename identified by the second external parameter in response to the message, the resource administration program for reporting the status responsive to the description, wherein reporting facilitates at least one of installing, reconfiguring, upgrading, managing, and monitoring operation of the resource.

39. The programmed product of claim 38 wherein the first means for supplying and the second means for supplying are accessed by the resource administration program by sequential search.

40. The programmed product of claim 38 wherein the second means for supplying comprises a conditional expression, the conditional expression supplying a second address and a value to the resource administration program for obtaining a second message from the resource at the second address, the conditional expression for supplying the description when the second message compares favorably with the value.

41. The medium of claim 40 wherein the conditional expression further comprises a logical operator.

42. The medium of claim 38 wherein the second means for supplying further comprises a string, identified by the external parameter, that supplies to the resource administration program a second description of the status of the resource, the resource administration program for reporting the status in further response to the second description.

43. The medium of claim 38 wherein the description comprises a graphics data format.

44. A method performed by a server for resource administration, the server comprising a file system comprising a first file, the first file comprising instructions for performing the method, the method comprising:

performing a step for sending a first message to obtain an identification of a resource provided by the resource for facilitating access to a second file, the step for sending accomplished via a network, the resource providing the first message in response to the address, wherein the server, the network, and the resource are part of a computer system;

performing a step for accessing the second file in accordance with the identification of the resource to obtain a first conditional expression, the second file comprising a data structure, the data structure comprising the first conditional expression, an identification of a feature, a second conditional expression, and an address;

performing a step for evaluating the first conditional expression to obtain the identification of the feature;

performing a step for accessing the second file in accordance with the identification of the feature to obtain the second conditional expression;

performing a step for sending the address to the resource to obtain a second message provided by the resource, the second message comprising a value of a parameter, the second message being provided in response to receiving an address that identifies the parameter;

performing a step for evaluating the second conditional expression in accordance with the value of the parameter received with the second message; and

performing a step for reporting status of the resource in accordance with evaluation of the second conditional expression.

45. A programmed product comprising machine readable indicia recorded on at least one medium, the programmed product comprising:

a. means for indicating a first filename and a second filename;

b. first means for supplying a first value and an address to a provided administrator program, the administrator program developed without foreknowledge of the first value and the address, the administrator program for obtaining a second value from a provided resource, the second value being identified by the address, the first means being identified by the first filename; and

c. second means for supplying to the administrator program a description of a status of the resource, the second means being identified by the second filename, the second filename determined in accordance with the first value, the administrator program for reporting the status in accordance with the description and the second value.

46. A programmed product comprising machine readable indicia recorded on at least one medium, the programmed product comprising:

a. means for indicating a first, a second, and a third filename;

b. first means for supplying a first value to a provided administrator program for determining the second filename, the administrator program developed without foreknowledge of the first value, the first means being identified by the first filename;

c. second means for supplying to the program a second value and an address, the administrator program for obtaining a third value from a provided resource, the third value being identified by the address, the second means being identified by the second filename; and

d. third means for supplying to the administrator program a description of a status of the resource, the third means being identified by the third filename, the third filename identified by the second value, the administrator program for reporting the status in accordance with the description and the third value.