Device access and control using embedded web access functionality

• US 6,139,177 A
• Filed: 04/25/1997
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Morgan, Jeff, Frid, Marcos, Venkatraman, Chandrasekar, Shoup, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Paul P.
• Application Number:
  US08/846,061
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 364/146, 364/188, 364/189, 707/513, 707/501, 345/326, 345/331
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33209 Protocol, mailbox, email, mail system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34038 Web, http, ftp, internet, intranet server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/10 Program control for peripheral devices G06F13/14 - G06F13/42 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

A web access functionality embedded in a device includes modules for generating a device web page wherein the device web page enables selection of at least one control function for the device. The web access functionality also includes modules for accessing the device web page via a communication path such that a user of a web browser accesses the control function for the device through the device web page. The control function includes control functions for loading new information into the device via the communication path and control functions for providing notification messages via the communication path upon the occurrence of events in the device.

Claims

1. A web access mechanism embedded in a device, comprising:

means for generating a device web page wherein the device web page enables selection of at least one control function for the device;

means for accessing to the device web page via a communication path such that a user of a web browser accesses the control function for the device through the device web page.

2. The web access mechanism of claim 1, wherein the control function is a loader function that enables loading of new information into the device via the communication path.

3. The web access mechanism of claim 2, further comprising means for generating a loader web page that enables the user to access the loader function via the communication path.

4. The web access mechanism of claim 3, wherein the means for generating a loader web page comprises means for generating a loader web page that enables the user to enter a URL for a file that contains information regarding the new Information.

5. The web access mechanism of claim 4, wherein the information regarding the new information includes a URL for each of a set of components of the new information.

6. The web access mechanism of claim 5, wherein the information regarding the new information includes a type indication for each component.

7. The web access mechanism of claim 6, wherein the type indication specifies that the component corresponds to native code in the device that performs device specific functions.

8. The web access mechanism of claim 6, wherein the type indication specifies that the component corresponds to a software object for performing a new control function in the device.

9. The web access mechanism of claim 2, further comprising means for updating a device configuration for the device such that the device configuration reflects the new information loaded into the device.

10. The web access mechanism of claim 2, further comprising means for performing a security check on the user before loading the new information into the device.

11. The web access mechanism of claim 2, wherein the new information comprises an update of native code for the device that performs device-specific functions.

12. The web access mechanism of claim 2, wherein the new information comprises a new software object that performs a web access function for the device.

13. The web access mechanism of claim 2, wherein the new sofware object performs a notifier function that enables the device to send a notification message via the communication link upon the occurrence of a predetermined event in the device.

14. The web access mechanism of claim 13, wherein the notification message is an email message.

15. The web access mechanism of claim 13, wherein the notification message is sent via the communication link using an HTTP post method.

16. The web access mechanism of claim 1, wherein the control function is a notifier function that sends a notification message over the communication path when one of a predetermined set of events occurs for the device.

17. The web access mechanism of claim 16, further comprising means for generating a web page that enables the user to register at least one interest in the predetermined events via the communication path.

18. The web access mechanism of claim 17, wherein the means for generating a web page that enables the user to register at least one interest comprises means for generating a web page that enables the user to register at least one email address for any one or more of the predetermined events.

19. The web access mechanism of claim 18, further comprising means for sending an email message specifying any one of the predetermined events to the email address registered for the any one of the predetermined events.

20. The web access mechanism of claim 17, wherein the means for generating a web page that enables the user to register at least one interest comprises means for generating a web page that enables the user to register at least one URL for any one or more of the predetermined events.

21. The web access mechanism of claim 20, further comprising means for sending a message specifying any one of the predetermined events to the URL registered for the any one of the predetermined events using an HTTP post method.