Abstract: An interface is provided between two or more self-describing devices, each having a data store, or two ongoing processes on the same device sharing a common data store. The interface includes a datastream having at least one metavariable that is indicative of at least two or more parameters associated with a device. The datastream occurs between the data store of one transmitting device to the data store or one or more receiving devices or between two or more processes that may or may not share a common data store. The metavariable references or implies a number of other variables and allows devices to effectively communication without knowledge of the underlying variables. The metavariable can be data indicative of the configuration and settings of a device or can be a command altering two or more setting of a device upon receipt of the metavariable by the device.

Abstract: A printer is provided which has a special Emulation Manager function as well as a “code sniffer” function, in which print data received is sent to a code sniffer buffer. A code sniffer function automatically determines the type of emulator that should be called to perform the interpretation or rendering of this print job, and if the code sniffer determines that the correct emulator is PostScript, then the code sniffer scans the data for any “special tokens.” If a special token is found, the PostScript emulator determines if the special token string data is part of a PostScript comment. If it is in the correct format, then the PostScript emulator sets the “mode flag” to the “MacBinary” state, and the code sniffer ceases any further filtering of control characters and disables any change of emulator command that may be received during this print job.

Abstract: A system and method for manipulating the private settings of a peripheral device, where the system includes at least one host computer and a peripheral device in a communication interface. The peripheral device has a data store including setting data for public settings of the peripheral device and private settings of the peripheral device that are implicated in the public settings, and has a variable manager that is in communication with the data store of the peripheral device. The host computer transmits a data packet including one or more public settings for of the peripheral device across the communication interface and the variable manager receives the data packet and retrieves the setting data from the data store in response to receipt of the data packet. The variable manager processes the data packet and manipulates one or more of the private settings of the peripheral device.

Abstract: A system and method for manipulating the private settings of a peripheral device where the system includes at least one host computer and a peripheral device in a communication interface. The peripheral device has a data store including setting data for public settings of a peripheral device and private settings of the peripheral device that are implicated in the public settings, and has a variable manager that is in communication with the data store of the peripheral device. The host computer transmits a data packet including one or more public settings for of the peripheral device across the communication interface and the variable manager receives the data packet and retrieves the setting data from the data store in response to receipt of the data to packet. The variable manager processes the data packet and manipulates one or more of the private settings of the peripheral device.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a virtual operator panel for a peripheral device where the system includes a peripheral device including a processor and a data store that stores public settings corresponding to private settings of the peripheral device, each public setting indicative of at least one private setting of the peripheral device. The peripheral device has a device process and a host process, or alternately, is in bidirectional communication with at least one host computer including a data store, a display and a processor. The host computer or host process selectively transmits a request to the peripheral device or device process requesting public settings of the peripheral device for the generation of a virtual operator panel for the peripheral device.

Abstract: A printer is provided which has a special Emulation Manager function as well as a “code sniffer” function, in which print data received is sent to a code sniffer buffer. A code sniffer function automatically determines the type of emulator that should be called to perform the interpretation or rendering of this print job, and if the code sniffer determines that the correct emulator is PostScript, then the code sniffer scans the data for any “special tokens.” If a special token is found, the PostScript emulator determines if the special token string data is part of a PostScript comment. If it is in the correct format, then the PostScript emulator sets the “mode flag” to the “MacBinary” state, and the code sniffer ceases any further filtering of control characters and disables any change of emulator command that may be received during this print job.