Method and system for using a selected peripheral of a network using a server as a re-router

• US 6,889,252 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2001
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jetcaps International Business Strategy SAS
• Original Assignee: Jetcaps International Business Strategy SAS
• Inventors: Lacome D'Estalenx, Jean-François
• Primary Examiner(s): Barot, Bharat
• Application Number:
  US10/012,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-203, 709208-209, 709217-220, 709227-229, 709245-246, 710 8- 19, 710223-224
• US Class Current: 709/220
• 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 3/1205 resulting in increased flexibility in print job configuration, e.g. job settings, print requirements, job tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1225 Software update, e.g. print driver, modules, plug-ins, fonts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1228 Printing driverless or using generic drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/126 Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1292 Mobile client, e.g. wireless printing

Abstract

Disclosed is a network peripheral access method. A device on a network registers with a server that peripheral access requests of a specific type be directed to a specific peripheral. When the device creates a request of the specified type, rather than sending the request directly to the peripheral, the device sends the request to the server. The server receives the request, associates the request with the peripheral registered for that type of request, and sends the request to the registered peripheral. In an alternate embodiment, the device sends an abbreviated request to the server, the server responds with an access identifier (e.g., a network address) of the registered peripheral, and the device sends the request directly to the registered peripheral. The presence of the server decreases the amount of peripheral-specific configuration information kept on the requesting device.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a user to select and use a peripheral connected to a network upon which a server operates for the purpose of having the selected peripheral execute data output requests emitted by a terminal of the user connected to the network, the peripheral being selected by the user from a plurality of peripherals connected to the same network,

wherein

said terminal of the user is permanently configured to the parameters of the server, so as to direct in a first instance the output requests, generated by the terminal, to the server,

the user sends to the server information identifying the selected peripheral, together with information identifying the user and/or the terminal of the user,

the server updates a table of a memory associated with the server, to associate the terminal of the user with the selected peripheral,

so that subsequent output requests generated by the terminal of the user shall be directed by the server to die selected peripheral.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the user indicates, to the server, the selected peripheral through an identification device associated with the peripheral.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the identification device is selectively associated with the peripheral.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein:

the user provides die selected peripheral with identification information relative to the user and/or to the terminal, by a direct input on the identification device associated to the peripheral;

the device transmits to the server the identification information, together with an information identifying the selected peripheral;

the server updates said table of a memory associated with the server associating each terminal which is known by the server to one of the peripherals of the network, for the purpose of redirecting output requests from a given terminal to the associated peripheral.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the update of the table associated with server comprises the step of updating the association of the given terminal to associate the terminal with the selected peripheral.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein the identification device comprises a keypad for allowing the user to enter one or more identification code(s).

7. A method according to claim 2, wherein the identification device comprises a sensor able to sense biometric information specific to the user.

8. A method according to claim 2, wherein the identification device comprises a card reader for reading the identification information contained in a card personal to the user.

9. A method according to claim 2, wherein the identification device comprises an infrared receiver for receiving identification information which have been beamed by the user from a device personal to the user and having an infrared port.

10. A method according to claim 2, wherein the identification device allows identification of the user.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein

the server receives the information identifying the user,

the server scans a reference table of its memory means to check that the received information corresponds to a declared user,

the server scans the first table of its memory means to determine which is the terminal associated with the identified user, and retrieves from this first table information identifying the terminal,

the server updates the second table of its memory means, associating in the second table the information identifying the terminal with the peripheral.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein

the terminal sends information identifying the selected peripheral, indicating that said peripheral is the peripheral to which output requests issued from the terminal must be directed,

the terminal sends as well an information identifying the terminal itself.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein a resource list is provided which a user can browse via a display imported on his terminal screen from the server, to select the desired peripheral.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the list of peripherals is organized as a geographical representation of a spatial distribution of the peripherals across the network.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the list of peripherals is organized to show different rooms available within a chosen area and/or floor, and wherein the list of peripherals indicates which peripherals can be selected within the different rooms.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the display shows an image of the peripheral in its physical environment.

17. A method according to claim 12, wherein

the server receives the information identifying the user,

the server scans a reference table of its memory means to check that the received information corresponds to a declared user,

the server scans the first table of its memory means to determine the terminal associated with the identified user, and retrieves from the first table information identifying the terminal,

the server updates the second table of its memory means, associating in the second table the information identifying the terminal with the peripheral.

18. A method according to claim 2, wherein the identification device allows identification of the terminal.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein

the server receives the information identifying the user,

the server scans a reference table of its memory means to check that the received information corresponds to a declared user,

the server updates the second table of its memory means, associating in this second table the information identifying the terminal with the peripheral.

20. A method according to claim 1, wherein the user indicates to the server the selected peripheral on a display of the terminal of the user, a network connection being established between the terminal and the server.

21. A method according so claim 1, wherein the information identifying the peripheral can be the network address of the peripheral.

22. A method according to claim 1, wherein memory means of the server comprises two tables, the two tables including a first table listing set of users and all terminals associated with the users, and a second table listing all associations of the terminals or users with selected peripherals.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the two tables are gathered in a single table.

24. A method according to claim 1, wherein the server is comprised in a printer.

25. A system for enabling a user to select and use a peripheral connected to a network upon which a server operates for the purpose of having the selected peripheral execute data output requests emitted by a terminal of the user connected to the network, the peripheral being selected by the user from a plurality of peripherals connected to the same network, the system comprising:

a terminal of the user permanently configured to the parameters of the server, so as to direct in a first instance the output requests, generated by the terminal, to the server,

wherein the terminal, under direction from the user, sends to the server information identifying the selected peripheral, together with information identifying the user and/or the terminal of the user, and wherein

the server comprises executable instructions for updating a table of a memory associated with the server, to associate the terminal of the user with the selected peripheral,

so that subsequent output requests generated by the terminal of the user shall be directed by the server to the selected peripheral.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein the user indicates, to the server, the selected peripheral through an identification device associated with the peripheral.

27. A system according to claim 26, further comprising an interface on the terminal wherein the user provides the selected peripheral with identification information, relative to the user and/or to the terminal, by a direct input on the identification device associated to the peripheral;

wherein the device transmits to the server the identification information, together with an information identifying the selected peripheral; and

wherein the server updates said table of a memory associated with the server associating each terminal which is known by the server to one of the peripherals of the network, for the purpose of redirecting output requests from a given terminal to the associated peripheral.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein the update of the table associated with the server comprises the step of updating the association of the given terminal to associate the terminal with the selected peripheral.

29. A system according to claim 25, wherein the user indicates to the server the selected peripheral on a display of the terminal of the user, a network connection being established between the terminal and the server.

30. A system according to claim 25, wherein memory means of the server comprises two tables, and wherein the two tables comprise:

a first table for listing a set of users and all terminals associated with the users, and a second table for listing all associations of the terminals or users with selected peripherals.

31. A method for enabling a user to select and use a peripheral connected to a network upon which a server operates for the purpose of having the selected peripheral execute data output requests emitted by a terminal of the user connected to the network, the peripheral being selected by the user from a plurality of peripherals connected to the network, the selection updating a table comprised in memory means of the server, the table containing the associations of the terminal and the peripherals wherein when receiving an output request from the network, the server scans said table to determine the peripheral associated with the terminal having generated the output request, the server thereafter rerouting the output request, received from the terminal, to the selected peripheral.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the method comprises a step of encryption of data to be output.

33. A system for facilitating a user selecting and using a peripheral connected to a network upon which a server operates for the purpose of having the selected peripheral execute data output requests emitted by a terminal of the user connected to the network, the peripheral being selected by the user from a plurality of peripherals connected to the network, the selection updating a table comprised in memory means of the server, the table containing the associations of the terminal and the peripherals wherein when receiving an output request from the network, the server scans said table to determine the peripheral associated with the terminal having generated the output request, the server thereafter rerouting the output request, received from the terminal, to the selected peripheral.

34. A method for enabling a user to select and use a peripheral connected to a network upon which a server operates for the purpose of having the selected peripheral execute data output requests emitted by a terminal of the user connected to the network, the peripheral being selected by the user from a plurality of peripherals connected to the network, the selection updating a table comprised in memory means of the server, the table containing the associations of the terminal and the peripherals wherein the user'"'"'s terminal does not allow the direct sending of a full output request to the server when the user enters on his terminal a command to output data on the selected peripheral.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein the method comprises a step of encrypting data to be output.

36. A system for facilitating a user selecting and using a peripheral connected to network upon which a server operates for the purpose of having the selected peripheral execute data output requests emitted by a terminal of the user connected to the network, the peripheral being selected by the user from a plurality of peripherals connected to the network, the selection updating a table comprised in memory means of the server, the table containing the associations of the terminal and the peripherals wherein the user'"'"'s terminal does not allow the direct sending of a full output request to the server when the user enters on his terminal a command to output data on the selected peripheral.

37. A method for enabling a user to select and use a peripheral connected to a network operated by a server for the purpose of having the selected peripheral execute data output requests emitted by a terminal of the user connected to the network, the peripheral being selected by the user from a plurality of peripherals connected to the same network, this the selection updating a table comprised in memory means of the server, this the table containing the associations of the terminal and the peripherals wherein the user'"'"'s terminal does not allow the direct sending of a full output request to the server when the user enters on his terminal a command to output data on the selected peripheral,

wherein when the user enters a command of output, the following steps occur:

a plug-in installed on the terminal builds a message to be sent to the server through the network, said message;

containing information identifying the terminal, and

requesting a network address for sending to the network address the actual and full output request,

the server scans the table in his memory means, to determine which peripheral is associated with the terminal, using the network address of the peripheral as information for identifying the selected peripheral

the server sends back to the terminal the network address of the peripheral associated with the terminal,

the plug-in then receives the network address of the selected peripheral,

the plug-in builds a full output request directed to the network address received from the server and sends it to the network address.

38. A method for enabling a user to select and use a peripheral connected to a network operated by a server for the purpose of having the selected peripheral execute data output requests emitted by a terminal of the user connected to the network, the peripheral being selected by the user from a plurality of peripherals connected to the same network, this the selection updating a table comprised in memory means of the server, this the table containing the associations of the terminal and the peripherals wherein the user'"'"'s terminal does not allow the direct sending of a full output request to the server when the user enters on his terminal a command to output data on the selected peripheral,

wherein when the user enters a command of output, the following steps occur:

a plug-in installed on the terminal builds a message to be sent to the server through the network, said message containing information identifying the terminal and all information necessary to build the full output request, said message being built by the plug-in as an e-mail message,

the plug-in sends the e-mail message to the server through the network,

the server, after receiving the e-mail message, extracts from the e-mail message the information identifying the terminal,

the server, after extracting the information identifying the terminal, scans the table in its memory means, to determine which peripheral is associated with the terminal, using the network address of the peripheral to identify the selected peripheral,

the server, after determining which peripheral is associated with the terminal, builds another e-mail message, directed to the peripheral, containing all information for executing the output request, the selected peripheral having means to extract the request when receiving the e-mail message from the server, extracting it and executing it.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein the peripheral and/or the server and/or the terminal have means to operate classical protocols for transferring e-mails, such as SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol).