Abstract: Discovery of network services consumable by a client executing on a first device. A request is received from the client for a list of services. There is a determination of whether a second device on the network which maintains a current list of services can or can not be located. Responsive to a determination that the second device can not be located, a local cached copy of a list of services is returned to the client. Responsive to a determination that the second device can be located, a request for the current list of services is sent to the second device, and a response containing the current list of services is received from the second device. The current list of services is returned to the client.

Abstract: A network-enabled device is synchronized with other nodes. Services are run on the device, including at least a node service and a service repository service. Peer nodes on a network are accessed, and a service list which includes services available locally at the network-enabled device and services available remotely at peer nodes is maintained at the service repository service. The node service manages synchronized access to the service list by multicasting a change notification responsive to a change in the services available locally, and by listening to multicasts of change notifications from peer nodes. Responsive to a change in local services, the node service collects a list of local services at the device, generates a SyncGUID by using a hash function applied to the list of services, formats a change notification message which includes the SyncGUID, and multicasts the formatted change notification message to peer nodes on the network.

Abstract: A print preview is displayed for a printer on a network. A selection of a document to be printed by the printer is accepted, and a request for the selected document is sent from the printer to a remote print preview service. There is a determination of whether the printer supports a native print preview function capable of displaying a visually acceptable print preview on a display unit of the printer. If the printer supports such a native print preview function, the printer requests the remote print preview service to generate a native print preview compatible with the capabilities of the printer and to transmit the generated native print preview to the printer. If the printer does not support such a native print preview function, the printer requests the remote print preview service to generate a print preview for an alternate display device, and to transmit the generated print preview to the alternate display device.

Abstract: A print preview is displayed for a printer on a network. A selection of a document to be printed by the printer is accepted, and a request for the selected document is sent from the printer to a remote print preview service. There is a determination of whether the printer supports a native print preview function capable of displaying a visually acceptable print preview on a display unit of the printer. If the printer supports such a native print preview function, the printer requests the remote print preview service to generate a native print preview compatible with the capabilities of the printer and to transmit the generated native print preview to the printer. If the printer does not support such a native print preview function, the printer requests the remote print preview service to generate a print preview for an alternate display device, and to transmit the generated print preview to the alternate display device.

Abstract: Content is provided to a client device. A request is received from the client device at a content management service which has access to a database of content and a database of devices on a network. The request identifies content requested by a client. The content management service designates a content source. Capability information is received from the client device. The content management service determines whether the client device has capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request, using the capability information. Responsive to a determination that the client device has the capabilities, the client device is provided with information to facilitate direct communication between the client device and the content source. Responsive to a determination that the client device does not have the capabilities, a communication channel is constructed between the client device and one or more other devices which have capabilities corresponding to the content.

Abstract: Discovery of network services consumable by a client executing on a first device. A request is received from the client for a list of services. There is a determination of whether a second device on the network which maintains a current list of services can or can not be located. Responsive to a determination that the second device can not be located, a local cached copy of a list of services is returned to the client. Responsive to a determination that the second device can be located, a request for the current list of services is sent to the second device, and a response containing the current list of services is received from the second device. The current list of services is returned to the client.

Abstract: Content is provided to a client device. A request is received from the client device at a content management service which has access to a database of content and a database of devices on a network. The request identifies content requested by a client. The content management service designates a content source. Capability information is received from the client device. The content management service determines whether the client device has capabilities corresponding to the content identified by the request, using the capability information. Responsive to a determination that the client device has the capabilities, the client device is provided with information to facilitate direct communication between the client device and the content source. Responsive to a determination that the client device does not have the capabilities, a communication channel is constructed between the client device and one or more other devices which have capabilities corresponding to the content.

Abstract: A network-enabled device is synchronized with other nodes. Services are run on the device, including at least a node service and a service repository service. Peer nodes on a network are accessed, and a service list which includes services available locally at the network-enabled device and services available remotely at peer nodes is maintained at the service repository service. The node service manages synchronized access to the service list by multicasting a change notification responsive to a change in the services available locally, and by listening to multicasts of change notifications from peer nodes. Responsive to a change in local services, the node service collects a list of local services at the device, generates a SyncGUID by using a hash function applied to the list of services, formats a change notification message which includes the SyncGUID, and multicasts the formatted change notification message to peer nodes on the network.

Abstract: Managing a plurality of printing devices on a network, including detecting a printing device connected on the network, requesting information from the detected printing device, receiving the requested information from the printing device, and creating a print queue for the printing device based on the received information.

Abstract: Managing a plurality of network devices on a network, including detecting an address assignment message sent from an address server over the network to a network device, the address assignment message containing an assigned address corresponding to the network device, sending an information request message, in response to the detection of the address assignment message, over the network from the network management device to the network device, the information request message containing the assigned address corresponding to the network device, receiving information, in response to the information request message, from the network device, and creating an entry corresponding to the network device in a device management directory, the entry containing the assigned address corresponding to the network device and the information received from the network device.

Abstract: Managing a plurality of printing devices on a network, including detecting a printing device connected on the network, requesting information from the detected printing device, receiving the requested information from the printing device, and creating a print queue for the printing device based on the received information.

Abstract: Managing a plurality of network devices on a network, including detecting an address assignment message sent from an address server over the network to a network device, the address assignment message containing an assigned address corresponding to the network device, sending an information request message, in response to the detection of the address assignment message, over the network from the network management device to the network device, the information request message containing the assigned address corresponding to the network device, receiving information, in response to the information request message, from the network device, and creating an entry corresponding to the network device in a device management directory, the entry containing the assigned address corresponding to the network device and the information received from the network device.