Graphical interface for copying settings from network source device to network target devices without transmitting values not usable for features supported by network target devices

• US 6,349,304 B1
• Filed: 12/09/1998
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Boldt, Gerald Donald, Stucka, Stephen Edward, Goddard, Joan Stagaman
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tanh Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/207,810
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 710/8, 710/10, 710/104, 713/1, 713/100, 709/221, 709/222
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/177 Initialisation or configuration control processor initialisation G06F9/4405
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1229 Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1257 by using pre-stored settings, e.g. job templates, presets, print styles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for configuring a plurality of devices linked to a network, such as printers or any other network device, with a computer also linked to the network. A computer determines from the devices a source device. The computer then determines a set of features from features implemented in the source device. At least one value is set for each feature in the source device. The computer also determines at least one target device. For each target device, the computer then determines features from the determined set of features that the target device is capable of implementing. The computer then transmits to each target device via the network the values for the determined features the target device is capable of implementing. If there are multiple target devices, then different sets of values from the determined set of features may be transmitted to different target devices when the target devices have different capabilities with respect to the determined set of features. The target devices are configured with the values transmitted over the network.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a target device linked to a network, wherein a plurality of devices communicate over the network, comprising the steps of:

determining a source device from the devices;

determining a set of features from features implemented in the source device, wherein at least one value is set for each feature in the source device;

determining features from the determined set of features that the target device is capable of implementing, wherein the determined features the target device is capable of implementing differ from the determined set of features;

transmitting to the target device the values for the determined features that the target device is capable of implementing via the network, wherein the target device is configured with the values transmitted over the network; and

generating information on values for determined features not transmitted to the target device upon determining that the target device is not capable of implementing the values for the determined features.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein determining features from the determined set of features that the target device is capable of implementing further comprises:

transmitting a query to the target device to determine whether the target device supports the determined features.

2. A method for configuring a plurality of devices linked to a network, comprising the steps of:

determining a source device from the devices;

determining a set of features from features implemented in the source device, wherein at least one value is set for each feature in the source device;

determining from the devices a plurality of target devices;

for each target device, determining features from the determined set of features that the target device is capable of implementing;

for each target device, transmitting to the target device the values for the determined features that the target device is capable of implementing via the network, wherein the target device is configured with the values transmitted over the network, and wherein different sets of values from the determined set of features are transmitted to different target devices when the target devices have different capabilities with respect to the determined set of features; and

generating information on values for determined features not transmitted to the target device upon determining that the target device is not capable of implementing the values for the determined features.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of determining the features which the target device is capable of implementing further comprises determining whether the target device is capable of implementing the values set in the source device for the determined features that the target device is capable of implementing, wherein the step of transmitting comprises transmitting only those values the target device is capable of implementing.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the steps of determining the source device, the set of features and the target devices comprise an operation that is a member of the set of operations comprising receiving information indicating the source device, the set of features, and the target devices from a user operated input device and retrieving default information indicating the source device, the set of features, and the target devices from a storage area.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the determined set of features are capable of being selected from a source file including features and values set thereof and wherein the target devices are capable of including at least one file to store values for selected features.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the target and source devices are printers and the steps of determining the features, the target devices, and transmitting the values are performed by a computer, wherein the target printers and computer communicate via the network.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the determined features from the source printer are comprised of at least one feature that is a member of the set of features comprising:

network interface properties, wherein the target printers are configured with values for the network interface properties to control how the target printers use the network interface to communicate over the network;

print modes including simplex and duplex features;

a console lock feature, wherein a first value locks the printer console and a second value unlocks the printer console; and

an authentication protocol which is used to access the target printers over the network.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of determining the features from the source device comprises the steps of:

displaying on a computer monitor a first graphical dialog box displaying a list of devices;

receiving input from an input device indicating a selected source device from the devices displayed in the first graphical dialog box;

displaying on the computer monitor a second graphical dialog box displaying features implemented within the selected source device; and

receiving input from the input device indicating a value for at least one feature to apply to the target devices from the features displayed in the second graphical dialog box.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of determining the plurality of target devices, comprises the steps of:

displaying on the computer monitor a third graphical dialog box displaying a list of devices; and

receiving input from the input device indicating at least one target device from the list of devices displayed in the third graphical dialog box.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of displaying a fourth graphical display box indicating the values for the selected features to transmit to the at least one target device.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the steps of determining the source device, determining the features, determining the target devices, determining the features which the target devices can implement, and transmitting the values are implemented in a software program written in an object oriented computer language that is capable of being executed from a Web browser.

38. The method of claim 2, wherein determining features from the determined set of features that the target device is capable of implementing further comprises:

transmitting a query to the target device to determine whether the target device supports the determined features.

11. A method for configuring a plurality of devices linked to a network, comprising:

(a) determining a source device from the devices by;

(i) displaying on a computer monitor a first graphical dialog box displaying a list of devices;

(ii) receiving input from an input device indicating a selected source device from the devices displayed in the first graphical dialog box;

(b) determining a set of features from features implemented in the source device, wherein at least one value is set for each feature in the source device by;

(i) displaying on the computer monitor a second graphical dialog box displaying features implemented within the selected source device; and

(ii) receiving input from the input device indicating a value for at least one feature to apply to target devices from the features displayed in the second graphical dialog box;

(c) determining from the devices a plurality of target devices by;

(i) displaying on the computer monitor a third graphical dialog box displaying a list of devices; and

(ii) receiving input from the input device indicating at least one target device from the list of devices displayed in the third graphical dialog box;

(d) for each target device, determining features from the determined set of features that the target device is capable of implementing;

(e) for each target device, transmitting to the target device the values for the determined features that the target device is capable of implementing via the network, wherein the target device is configured with the values transmitted over the network, and wherein different sets of values from the determined set of features are transmitted to different target devices when the target devices have different capabilities with respect to the determined set of features; and

(f) displaying in a fourth graphical dialog box information indicating whether the target device was configured with the transmitted values and displaying, for each target device, information indicating values for selected features that are not transmitted upon determining that the target device is not capable of implementing the values for the determined features.

13. A system for configuring a target device linked to a network, comprising:

a processing unit capable of communicating with the plurality of devices over the network; and

program logic executed by the processing unit, comprising;

(i) means for determining a source device from the devices;

(ii) means for determining a set of features from features implemented in the source device, wherein at least one value is set for each feature in the source device;

(iii) means for determining features from the determined set of features that the target device is capable of implementing, wherein the determined features the target device is capable of implementing differ from the determined set of features;

(iv) means for transmitting to the target device the values for the determined features that the target device is capable of implementing via the network, wherein the target device is configured with the values transmitted over the network; and

(v) means for generating information on values for determined features not transmitted to the target device upon determining that the target device is not capable of implementing the values for the determined features.

39. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for determining features from the determined set of features that the target device is capable of implementing further performs:

transmitting a query to the target device to determine whether the target device supports the determined features.

14. A system for configuring a plurality of devices linked to a network, comprising:

a processing unit capable of communicating with the plurality of devices over the network; and

program logic executed by the processing unit, comprising;

(i) means for determining from the devices a source device;

(ii) means for determining a set of features from features implemented in the source device, wherein at least one value is set for each feature in the source device;

(iii) means for determining from the devices a plurality of target devices;

(iv) means for determining, for each target device, features from the determined set of features that each target device is capable of implementing;

(v) means for transmitting to each target device the values for the determined features that each target device is capable of implementing via the network, wherein each target device is configured with the values transmitted for each target device over the network, and wherein different sets of values from the determined set of features are transmitted to different target devices when the target devices have different capabilities with respect to the determined set of features; and

(vi) means for generating information on values for determined features not transmitted to the target device upon determining that the target device is not capable of implementing the values for the determined features.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for determining the features which each target device is capable of implementing further comprises determining whether each target device is capable of implementing the values set in the source device for the determined features that each target device is capable of implementing, wherein the means of transmitting comprises transmitting only those values each target device is capable of implementing.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a user operated input device in communication with the processing unit, wherein the program logic further comprises means for receiving from the input device information indicating the source device, the set of features and the target devices.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the program logic further comprises means for determining the features from a source file including feature values and wherein the target devices are capable of including at least one file to store values for selected features.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the target and source devices are comprised of printers, wherein the target printers and processing unit communicate via the network.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the determined features from the source printer are comprised of at least one feature that is a member of the set of features comprising:

network interface properties, wherein the target printers are configured with values for the network interface properties to control how the target printers use the network interface to communicate over the network;

print modes including simplex and duplex features;

a console lock feature, wherein a first value locks the printer console and a second value unlocks the printer console; and

an authentication protocol which is used to access the target printers over the network.

20. The system of claim 14, further comprising a computer monitor in communication with the processing unit and an input device for transmitting data to the processing unit, wherein the means for determining the features from the source device comprises:

means for displaying on a computer monitor a first graphical dialog box displaying a list of devices;

means for receiving input from the input device indicating a selected source device from the devices displayed in the first graphical dialog box;

means for displaying on the computer monitor a second graphical dialog box displaying features implemented within the selected source device; and

means for receiving input from the input device indicating a value for at least one feature to apply to the target devices from the features displayed in the second graphical dialog box.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the means for determining the plurality of target devices, comprises:

means for displaying on the computer monitor a third graphical dialog box displaying a list of devices; and

means for receiving input from the input device indicating at least one target device from the list of devices displayed in the third graphical dialog box.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the program logic further comprises means for displaying a fourth graphical display box indicating the values for the selected features to transmit to the at least one target device.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the program logic is implemented in a software program written in an object oriented computer language that is capable of being executed from a Web browser.

40. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for determining features from the determined set of features that each target device is capable of implementing further performs:

transmitting a query to each target device to determine whether each target device supports the determined features.

23. A system for configuring a plurality of devices linked to a network, comprising:

a processing unit capable of communicating with the plurality of devices over the network; and

a computer monitor in communication with the processing unit and an input device for transmitting data to the processing unit;

program logic executed by the processing unit, comprising;

(a) means for determining a source device from the devices by;

(i) displaying on a computer monitor a first graphical dialog box displaying a list of devices;

(ii) receiving input from an input device indicating a selected source device from the devices displayed in the first graphical dialog box;

(b) means for determining a set of features from features implemented in the source device, wherein at least one value is set for each feature in the source device by;

(i) displaying on the computer monitor a second graphical dialog box displaying features implemented within the selected source device; and

(ii) receiving input from the input device indicating a value for at least one feature to apply to target devices from the features displayed in the second graphical dialog box;

(c) determining from the devices a plurality of target devices by;

(i) displaying on the computer monitor a third graphical dialog box displaying a list of devices; and

(ii) receiving input from the input device indicating at least one target device from the list of devices displayed in the third graphical dialog box;

(d) for each target device, determining features from the determined set of features that the target device is capable of implementing; and

(e) for each target device, transmitting to the target device the values for the determined features that the target device is capable of implementing via the network, wherein the target device is configured with the values transmitted over the network, and wherein different sets of values from the determined set of features are transmitted to different target devices when the target devices have different capabilities with respect to the determined set of features;

(f) displaying in a fourth graphical dialog box information indicating whether the target device was configured with the transmitted values and displaying, for each target device, information indicating values for selected features that are not transmitted upon determining that the target device is not capable of implementing the values for the determined features.

25. An article of manufacture for use in programming a computer to configure a target device over a network, the article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium including at least one computer program that causes the computer to perform the steps of:

determining a source device from the devices;

determining a set of features from features implemented in the source device, wherein at least one value is set for each feature in the source device;

determining features from the determined set of features that the target device is capable of implementing, wherein the determined features the target device is capable of implementing differ from the determined set of features;

transmitting to the target device the values for the determined features that the target device is capable of implementing via the network, wherein the target device is configured with the values transmitted over the network; and

generating information on values for determined features not transmitted to the target device upon determining that the target device is not capable of implementing the values for the determined features.

41. The article of manufacture of claim 25, wherein the step of determining features from the determined set of features that the target device is capable of implementing further comprises:

transmitting a query to the target device to determine whether the target device supports the determined features.

26. An article of manufacture for use in programming a computer to configure a plurality of devices over a network, the article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium including at least one computer program that causes the computer to perform the steps of:

determining from the devices a source device;

determining a set of features from the features implemented in the source device, wherein at least one value is set for each feature in the source device;

determining from the devices a plurality of target devices;

for each target device, determining features from the determined set of features that the target device is capable of implementing;

for each target device, transmitting to the target device the values for the determined features that the target device is capable of implementing via the network, wherein the target device is configured with the values transmitted over the network, and wherein different sets of values from the determined set of features are transmitted to different target devices when the target devices have different capabilities with respect to the determined set of features; and

generating information on values for determined features not transmitted to the target device upon determining that the target device is not capable of implementing the values for the determined features.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the step of determining the features which the target device is capable of implementing further comprises determining whether the target device is capable of implementing the values set in the source device for the determined features that the target device is capable of implementing, wherein the step of transmitting comprises transmitting only those values the target device is capable of implementing.

28. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the steps of determining the source device, the set of features and the target devices comprise an operation that is a member of the set of operations comprising receiving information indicating the source device, the set of features, and the target devices from a user operated input device and retrieving default information indicating the source device, the set of features, and the target devices from a storage area.

29. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the determined set of features are capable of being determined from a source file including feature values and wherein the target devices are capable of including at least one file to store values for selected features.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the target and source devices are printers and the steps of determining the features, the target devices, and transmitting the values are performed by a computer, wherein the target printers and computer communicate via the network.

31. The article of manufacture of claim 30, wherein the determined features from the source printer are comprised of at least one feature that is a member of the set of features comprising:

network interface properties, wherein the target printers are configured with values for the network interface properties to control how the target printers use the network interface to communicate over the network;

print modes including simplex and duplex features;

a console lock feature, wherein a first value locks the printer console and a second value unlocks the printer console; and

an authentication protocol which is used to access the target printers over the network.

32. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the step of determining the features from the source device comprises the steps of:

displaying on a computer monitor a first graphical dialog box displaying a list of devices;

receiving input from an input device indicating a selected source device from the devices displayed in the first graphical dialog box;

displaying on the computer monitor a second graphical dialog box displaying features implemented within the selected source device; and

receiving input from the input device indicating a value for at least one feature to apply to the target devices from the features displayed in the second graphical dialog box.

33. The article of manufacture of claim 32, wherein the step of determining the plurality of target devices, comprises the steps of:

displaying on the computer monitor a third graphical dialog box displaying a list of devices; and

receiving input from the input device indicating at least one target device from the list of devices displayed in the third graphical dialog box.

34. The article of manufacture of claim 33, further comprising the step of displaying a fourth graphical display box indicating the values for the selected features to transmit to the at least one target device.

36. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the steps of determining the source device, determining the features, determining the target devices, determining the features which the target devices can implement, and transmitting the values are implemented in a software program written in an object oriented computer language that is capable of being executed from a Web browser.

42. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the step of determining features from the determined set of features that the target device is capable of implementing further comprises:

transmitting a query to the target device to determine whether the target device supports the determined features.

35. An article of manufacture for use in programming a computer to configure a plurality of devices over a network, wherein the computer includes a computer monitor and input device, and wherein the article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium including at least one computer program that causes the computer to perform the steps of:

(a) determining from the devices a source device by;

i. displaying on the computer monitor a first graphical dialog box displaying a list of devices;

ii. receiving input from the input device indicating a selected source device from the devices displayed in the first graphical dialog box;

(b) determining a set of features from the features implemented in the source device, wherein at least one value is set for each feature in the source device by;

i. displaying on the computer monitor a second graphical dialog box displaying features implemented within the selected source device; and

ii. receiving input from the input device indicating a value for at least one feature to apply to target devices from the features displayed in the second graphical dialog box;

(c) determining from the devices a plurality of target devices by;

i. displaying on the computer monitor a third graphical dialog box displaying a list of devices; and

ii. receiving input from the input device indicating at least one target device from the list of devices displayed in the third graphical dialog box;

(d) for each target device, determining features from the determined set of features that the target device is capable of implementing;

(e) for each target device, transmitting to the target device the values for the determined features that the target device is capable of implementing via the network, wherein the target device is configured with the values transmitted over the network, and wherein different sets of values from the determined set of features are transmitted to different target devices when the target devices have different capabilities with respect to the determined set of features; and

(f) displaying in a fourth graphical dialog box information indicating whether the target device was configured with the transmitted values and displaying, for each target device, information indicating that a value for a selected feature was not applied upon determining that the target device is not capable of implementing the value for the determined feature.