Abstract: Computer networks can have excessively varied configurations, hence the ability to easily discover and access services within a networked computing environment has become indispensable to modern business. As a result, systems such as ZeroConfiguration (ZeroConfig) have been introduced to make services such as printing more seamless. ZeroConfig enables a service (such as a printing service) to be discovered in a straightforward manner to user devices wishing to use the service without any configuration on the part of a user or administrator. While this is advantageous in some environments, in others, service visibility becomes too widespread. Hence, a system and method is provided for controlled visibility service discovery and subsequent service execution. The system and method allow only authorized users to discover services from their user device using ZeroConfig as the underlying technology. In this way benefits of systems such as ZeroConfig can be maintained while providing service visibility control.

Abstract: Computer networks can have excessively varied configurations, hence the ability to easily discover and access services within a networked computing environment has become indispensable to modern business. As a result, systems such as ZeroConfiguration (ZeroConfig) have been introduced to make services such as printing more seamless. ZeroConfig enables a service (such as a printing service) to be discovered in a straightforward manner to user devices wishing to use the service without any configuration on the part of a user or administrator. While this is advantageous in some environments, in others, service visibility becomes too widespread. Hence, a system and method is provided for controlled visibility service discovery and subsequent service execution. The system and method allow only authorized users to discover services from their user device using ZeroConfig as the underlying technology. In this way benefits of systems such as ZeroConfig can be maintained while providing service visibility control.

Abstract: In a network environment, a printer system that prints from a Windows-based Terminal Server to a printer connected to a local client terminal without requiring installation of printer-specific drivers on the server. A single printer device driver is installed on the server and from the client machine, the user prints to the server print driver, which sends the print job to the local client. When the local client receives the print file, the printer specific device driver resident on the client prints the output to the local printer. This process eliminates the need for the server to have printer-specific drivers for each local printer.