Abstract: A method of communicating with a shared imaging apparatus connected to a computer network, wherein communication over the network is facilitated through use of network packets, includes the steps of providing the shared imaging apparatus with networking hardware; providing the shared imaging apparatus with imaging apparatus firmware; defining a data channel associated with the networking hardware; instructing the networking hardware to accept information on the data channel from a user that owns the data channel; processing automatic Internet Protocol (IP) address negotiation network packets with the imaging apparatus firmware when the data channel is not owned; and processing second types of network packets, different from the automatic IP address negotiation network packets, by the networking hardware of the shared imaging apparatus when the data channel is owned.

Abstract: A method for negotiating an Internet Protocol (IP) address for an imaging apparatus connected to a network includes the steps of controlling network communication between the imaging apparatus and the network; defining an imaging state when the imaging apparatus is available for imaging, wherein during the imaging state the imaging apparatus waits in an idle state during periods of non-imaging; defining an automatic IP address negotiation state when the imaging apparatus is not available for imaging; if the imaging apparatus is in the idle state, then determining whether the imaging apparatus should leave the imaging state and enter the automatic IP address negotiation state; and when the imaging apparatus is in the automatic IP address negotiation state, then attempting to automatically assign an IP address to the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: A method for negotiating an Internet Protocol (IP) address for an imaging apparatus connected to a network includes the steps of controlling network communication between the imaging apparatus and the network; defining an imaging state when the imaging apparatus is available for imaging, wherein during the imaging state the imaging apparatus waits in an idle state during periods of non-imaging; defining an automatic IP address negotiation state when the imaging apparatus is not available for imaging; if the imaging apparatus is in the idle state, then determining whether the imaging apparatus should leave the imaging state and enter the automatic IP address negotiation state; and when the imaging apparatus is in the automatic IP address negotiation state, then attempting to automatically assign an IP address to the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: A method for negotiating an Internet Protocol (IP) address for an imaging apparatus connected to a network includes the steps of controlling network communication between the imaging apparatus and the network; defining an imaging state when the imaging apparatus is available for imaging, wherein during the imaging state the imaging apparatus waits in an idle state during periods of non-imaging; defining an automatic IP address negotiation state when the imaging apparatus is not available for imaging; if the imaging apparatus is in the idle state, then determining whether the imaging apparatus should leave the imaging state and enter the automatic IP address negotiation state; and when the imaging apparatus is in the automatic IP address negotiation state, then attempting to automatically assign an IP address to the imaging apparatus.

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 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.