Abstract: A computer network is disclosed as including at least one network client memory, a network operating system executing in the network client memory for operating the computer network and for providing access to network services, and a network application executing in the network client memory for performing an application function. The computer network also has a plurality of network devices interfaced to the network operating system and available to the network application and the network operating system for performing the network services. Each network device provides at least one specific network service and has an object component in the network client memory representative of the network device. Each object component includes an interface such that the network application is in direct communication with the interface of each object component. Accordingly, the network application communicates directly with each of the object components.

Abstract: The present invention discovery of a printer having a particular printer type in a network is disclosed. A socket having a socket identifier (ID)) associated with the printer type is provided to allow communication between the network and the printer. In a socket poll mode, the socket awaits and obtains outgoing data from the network tagged with the socket ID and sends the obtained outgoing data to the printer. In a socket listen mode, the socket awaits and obtains incoming data from the printer and sends the obtained incoming data to the network. A printer information object is provided for storing printer information associated with the printer once the printer is discovered. A timer provides a periodic timing signal TICK. The printer is periodically polled once every N TICKs.

Abstract: A computer network has a printing device with an associated print server and print queue, each having a designated name. A user selects the printing device to be configured, and it is determined whether the user wishes to create a new print server name to be associated with the printing device. If the user wishes to do so, the user inputs a unique print server name. If the user does not wish to do so, the user selects a print server name from a compiled list of existing print server names. Thereafter, it is determined whether the user wishes to create a new print queue name to be associated with the print server name and the printing device. If the user wishes to create a new print queue name, a default print queue name is created and it is determined whether the user wishes to accept the created print queue name. If the user does not wish to accept the created print queue name, the user inputs a unique print queue name.