Abstract: Apparatus and methods coordinate imaging in a fleet of disparate imaging devices. Each imaging device is associated to a unique identifier. Imaging volumes are gathered for each device in advance of a user walkthrough past the fleet. The volumes are averaged over a predetermined time period and displayed to the user during their walkthrough on a handheld computing device. A confidence factor is included so the user can ascertain reliability of the volume averages. The handheld computing device provides the user real-time knowledge of the fleet to better coordinate managed print services, for example. The handheld computing device is also configured to receive partial data from the user and in response provide selectable options corresponding to an identity of the imaging devices as standardized by third party reference data, for instance. Embodiments typify user interfaces, user actions, data, and computing applications, to name a few.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods coordinate imaging in a fleet of disparate imaging devices. Each imaging device is associated to a unique identifier. Imaging volumes are gathered for each device in advance of a user walkthrough past the fleet. The volumes are averaged over a predetermined time period and displayed to the user during their walkthrough on a handheld computing device. A confidence factor is included so the user can ascertain reliability of the volume averages. The handheld computing device provides the user real-time knowledge of the fleet to better coordinate managed print services, for example. The handheld computing device is also configured to receive partial data from the user and in response provide selectable options corresponding to an identity of the imaging devices as standardized by third party reference data, for instance. Embodiments typify user interfaces, user actions, data, and computing applications, to name a few.

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: The present invention relates to a print subsystem architecture in which a port monitor buffers data received from a spooler and asynchronously reads the buffered print data and transmits it to a printer.

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 system and method for controlling a print job in a printer, such as canceling the print job held in the printer. The system includes a printer having a processor that receives print jobs, including one or more print data swaths, from one or more host computers, and each print data swath includes at least a predefined group of characters. The system also has at least one host computer in communication with the printer and which selectively sends print jobs including print data and/or command data. The host computer further selectively sends a command which is a predetermined group of characters within the print data swath, and the command alters a function in the printer. The command is preferably a series of identical characters, such as NULL characters, and the command preferably causes the printer to enter a command mode to execute the commanded function.

Abstract: A method of automatically assigning an internet protocol address to a device is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a network; providing a computer communicatively coupled to the network; providing a network adapter to communicatively couple the device to the network; the computer performing the steps of generating an internet protocol address; incorporating the internet protocol address in an address resolution protocol probe; sending the address resolution protocol probe on the network; and determining whether a response to the address resolution protocol probe indicates that the internet protocol address is in use; wherein if the internet protocol address is not in use, then performing the step of assigning the internet protocol address to 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 creating network printer ports on a computer workstation includes the steps of providing a network; communicatively coupling the computer workstation to the network; and communicatively coupling at least one printer to the network. The computer workstation performs the steps of transmitting a discovery packet to which a first printer of a designated type can respond; receiving a response packet from the first printer, the response packet including printer-specific network information of the first printer; identifying whether a network port exists for the first printer; and if no such network port exists, then creating a first network printer port for the first printer based on the printer-specific network information for the first printer.

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.