Abstract: A network peripheral device driver maintenance framework and corresponding method is disclosed. The framework includes a driver version identification level comprising a set of driver version descriptions. Each driver version comprises a set of component versions that make upon each particular driver version. A driver component level, under the driver version identification level, comprises uniquely identified component versions (containers) comprising sets of driver files that make up the component versions identified by the driver versions. A method for maintaining multiple simultaneously active networked peripheral device drivers is disclosed. The method includes storing a new driver on the machine in a manner including the following steps performed by a machine. Initially, the machine establishes, within a directory structure, a container for storing a set of driver files constituting a version of a driver component. A unique identifier name is assigned to the new container.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for providing distributed seamless, fault tolerant and reliable solutions for imaging devices through creating virtual imaging servers and virtual connections to network imaging devices. This invention provides imaging job routing, job balancing, continuous service availability, simplified imaging device administration and the transparency of imaging device locations and name on a network by employing a hierarchical schema which defines and describes imaging devices, servers and imaging jobs.

Abstract: A network peripheral device driver maintenance framework and corresponding method is disclosed. The framework includes a driver version identification level comprising a set of driver version descriptions. Each driver version comprises a set of component versions that make upon each particular driver version. A driver component level, under the driver version identification level, comprises uniquely identified component versions (containers) comprising sets of driver files that make up the component versions identified by the driver versions. A method for maintaining multiple simultaneously active networked peripheral device drivers is disclosed. The method includes storing a new driver on the machine in a manner including the following steps performed by a machine. Initially, the machine establishes, within a directory structure, a container for storing a set of driver files constituting a version of a driver component. A unique identifier name is assigned to the new container.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for providing distributed seamless, fault tolerant and reliable solutions for imaging devices through creating virtual imaging servers and virtual connections to network imaging devices. This invention provides imaging job routing, job balancing, continuous service availability, simplified imaging device administration and the transparency of imaging device locations and name on a network by employing a hierarchical schema which defines and describes imaging devices, servers and imaging jobs.