Abstract: A method of sharing a printer between a plurality of users on a computer network includes attaching host-based networking hardware to the printer. A network communication protocol defines a command channel and a data channel. Only one of the users is allowed to own the data channel at any single point in time. The host-based networking hardware is instructed to accept information on the data channel only from the user that owns the data channel.

Abstract: A method of obtaining information from a networked device is provided. The method includes the steps of defining a network; providing a network adapter communicatively connected to the network, the network adapter connected to the networked device; providing memory in the network adapter; updating information in the memory, wherein the information describes a status of the networked device; placing the information into a response frame; and sending the response frame in response to any command frame received by the network adapter.

Abstract: A method of obtaining information from a networked device is provided. The method includes the steps of defining a network; providing a network adapter communicatively connected to the network, the network adapter connected to the networked device; providing memory in the network adapter; updating information in the memory, wherein the information describes a status of the networked device; placing the information into a response frame; and sending the response frame in response to any command frame received by the network adapter.

Abstract: A method of sharing a printer between a plurality of users on a computer network includes attaching host-based networking hardware to the printer. A network communication protocol defines a command channel and a data channel. Only one of the users is allowed to own the data channel at any single point in time. The host-based networking hardware is instructed to accept information on the data channel only from the user that owns the data channel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for using isochronous data transfer mode to communicate between a host computer and a printer. Preferably, the printer receives a sufficient volume of data from the host, such as a computer, over an isochronous communications channel, to begin but not complete one print pass (i.e., line scan or page scan). Subsequently, the print pass is initiated causing a print mechanism to move a printing device relative to a substrate without interruption. Thereafter, sufficient data to complete the pass without interruption is received over the isochronous communications channel during the print pass. The high speed transfer rates afforded by isochronous data transfer allow for printing to be initiated before all of the data necessary to complete a print operation without interruption is received. Moreover, the size of a printer buffer used to store the print data before printing may be considerably reduced to store only a portion of the data needed for an entire print pass.