Adding Network Printer Workstation

In the case of networked printer 14 , port monitor lake fork guide service 38 receives the TCP/IP address and affordable business seo small MAC address of networked printer 14 from network adapter 28. Russell, Richard Francis (Lexington, KY, US) Samples, Thomas Elmer (Lexington, KY, US) Images are available in PDF form when logged in. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims. - Previous Patent (Method and apparatus. 0024 In addition, computer workstation 12 includes a user interface 24 that permits user interaction via a CRT monitor and an input device, such as a keyboard and/or a mouse. Each device that can send or receive information (e. Operating system 22 includes a print subsystem 30 , such as a Windows print subsystem, and a print spooler 32 , such as a Windows print spooler. For example, network adapter 28 of networked printer 14 , being configured, will include both a unique MAC address and a valid IP address. Field of the Invention 0002 The present invention relates to the creation of printer ports on a workstation and, more particularly, to automatically creating a network printer port on a computer workstation.

0013 In still another form thereof, the present invention is directed to a method of automatically creating a network printer port on a workstation connected to a network, including the steps of providing a Windows operating system at the workstation, the Windows operating system including a print subsystem; providing northwest hospital houston texas a Windows print spooler at the workstation having an Add Port mechanism; providing a port monitor at the workstation; and invoking the Windows print spooler to initialize the port monitor. Thus, assuming that no network printer port presently exists for networked printer 14 , port monitor 38 invokes the Add Port mechanism of print spooler 32 , which in turn invokes the Add Port API of port monitor 38 as a prerequisite to establishing a new network printer port in computer workstation 12 for networked printer 14. 0032 At step 100 , when print subsystem free handspring software visor 30 is loaded by computer workstation 12 , print spooler 32 is invoked to initialize port monitor 38. .

1 is a schematic block diagram of a computer workstation in a networked environment and embodying the present invention; and 0020 FIG. Port monitor 38 contains the computer instructions used for acquiring the information necessary for the automatic creation of a network printer port, without user interaction, for association with a networked printer, such as networked printer 14. This task is normally performed by a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server existing on the LAN. 0040 In the embodiment of the present invention described above, the process of FIG. However, in addition, print spooler 32 has an Add Port mechanism, which in essence is a program that calls an Add Port application programming interface (API) in port monitor 38. Network adapter 28 may be implemented as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and may be a basic low-cost network adapter (LCNA) available from Lexmark International, Inc. 0030 Port monitor 38 performs network printer discovery. )Next Patent (Method and system fo.
1 , there is shown networked imaging system 10 that includes a computer workstation 12 , a networked printer 14 and a network 16. Thus, many users find the process of creating a network printer port on a workstation to be source of significant confusion and frustration. 0036 At step 108 , it is determined whether any networked printer of the designated type does not include a network printer port associated therewith on computer workstation 12.

0031 Now additionally referring to FIG. 0037 However, for each identified networked printer of the designated type for which no network printer port exists, the process proceeds to step 110 , wherein port monitor 38 invokes the Add Port mechanism of print spooler 32. 0023 Computer workstation 12 includes at least one microprocessor, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM) and various serial and parallel port connections, of a type well known in the art. 0012 In another form thereof, the present invention is directed to a computer program for automatically creating network printer ports on a computer workstation coupled to a network.
This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. , a host device) must also have a unique host address. 0025 Networked printer 14 may be an imaging device, such as a Lexmark® ink jet printer.
In turn, print spooler 32 invokes the Add Port API of port monitor 38. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that not all of these possible IP addresses are available due to administrative expediencies, such as reserving blocks of IP addresses for future use.
In the event that all identified networked printers of the designated type have an associated network printer port, the process of FIG. For purposes of this example, networked printer 14 is configured as a printer of the designated type.
A computer program for automatically creating network printer ports on a computer workstation coupled to a network, said computer program including instructions for performing the steps of: transmitting a discovery packet to which a printer of a designated type coupled to said network can respond; receiving a response packet from said printer thereby identifying said printer as being of said designated type, said response packet including printer-specific network information of said printer; identifying whether a network port exists on said computer workstation for said printer; and if no such network port exists, then, creating a first network printer port for said printer based on said printer-specific network information for said printer.
The port monitor receives the printer-specific network information, and for each identified printer of the designated type for which no port exists, the port monitor invokes the Add Port mechanism of the Windows print spooler. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 0022 Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG.

The method of claim 10, wherein the step of invoking said Windows print spooler to initialize said port monitor occurs when said print subsystem is loaded by said workstation.

In the discovery process, which will be described in more detail below, port monitor 38 identifies all networked devices on network 16 that can respond to a transmitted proprietary discovery packet.

Computer workstation 12 is configured with software, graphically depicted in FIG. Then, the user must step through a multitude of dialog screens, some of which require technical information that is not familiar to many users. 0015 Another advantage of the present invention is that the network printer port is created “silently”, without the user even knowing that the network printer port was created. Network 16 is not connected to the Internet; however, those skilled in the art will recognize that computer workstation 12 may be adapted for Internet connection via a modem. 1 in accordance with the present invention. Associated with the identified networked devices are the machine address code (MAC) and an IP address for each discovered networked printer.
Method for automatically creating network printer ports on a workstationPatent 20030055958 Method for automatically creating network printer ports on a workstation United States Patent 20030055958 A method of creating network printer ports on a computer workstation includes the steps of providing a network; communicatively coupling the computer workstation to the network; and communicatively coupling at least one printer to the network.

2 are performed under the cosmetology schools las vegas control of network port installation program 40 , which resides in printer driver 20 loaded on computer workstation 12. One such communication protocol used by these devices is a transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP).
0021 Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout lake of the woods virginia the several views. Devices within a local area network (LAN) usually have their own route tables of other devices in the LAN to allow quick and efficient communication within the LAN. The Add Port API includes a set of standard software interrupts, calls, data formats and routines that print spooler 32 begin that vocabulary words uses in adding a network printer port to computer workstation 12. Description of the Related Art 0004 With the large number of network devices, such as printers, which can be connected to a computer network, various methods have been developed to identify and manage network devices enabling them to communicate.
0034 At step 104 , each networked printer of the designated type, such as networked printer 14 , responds to the proprietary broadcast message with a unique money tree pay day loan data packet including printer-specific network information. 1 , including a printer driver 20 and an operating system 22. The type of host address used on a LAN that uses TCP/IP, is commonly referred to as an Internet protocol (IP) address.