Abstract: User interfaces that enable monitoring of the configuration and status of computing systems are disclosed. The user interfaces may summarize data collected from a plurality of computing systems. The data may be summarized by flagging collected information that does not match a set of reference information or the collected information from other systems. The flags may be presented at a variety of levels of granularity, and the presence of a flag at one level of granularity may indicate the presence of a flagged item at any lower level of granularity. A dynamic hierarchical user interface provides a user with a high level overview of system status, as well as the ability to drill down to identify specific system information that does not adhere to a specified configuration.

Abstract: User interfaces that enable monitoring of the configuration and status of computing systems are disclosed. The user interfaces may summarize data collected from a plurality of computing systems. The data may be summarized by flagging collected information that does not match a set of reference information or the collected information from other systems. The flags may be presented at a variety of levels of granularity, and the presence of a flag at one level of granularity may indicate the presence of a flagged item at any lower level of granularity. A dynamic hierarchical user interface provides a user with a high level overview of system status, as well as the ability to drill down to identify specific system information that does not adhere to a specified configuration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for setting up a printer driver for a networked printer by providing a dedicated configuration button on the printer. During printer driver setup, the user pushes the configuration button on the printer to cause the printer to broadcast a configuration event over the network the printer is connected to. The configuration event contains information regarding the printer's network address. The host computer that is performing a printer driver setup process will receive the event, which allows the host computer to automatically perform printer driver installation. This process eliminates the need to manually find out the printer's network address or type the network address on the host during printer driver setup.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for extending printing device availability detect a level of printing consumable, compare the detected level of printing consumable to a threshold level, provide a selection of printing modes if the detected level of printing consumable is less than the threshold level, and control the printing device to print in the selected printing mode. Printing device availability-extending modes include printing in a lower resolution, simulating black with a composite of colors, and/or printing in a substitute color when the level of one or more colors is low. The methods disclosed are applicable to a variety of printing devices including laser printers, ink-jet printers, LED printers, plotters, facsimile machines, digital copiers and multi-function printing devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with embodiments of the present invention provide a method for the direct printing of images from digital imaging devices. In some embodiments, an image is received from a digital imaging device and sent to a computer for processing. In some embodiments, after the computer has completed the processing of the image, the processed image is sent to a printer where it is printed. In some embodiments, the image may be received by a printer from a digital imaging device connected to the printer and then forwarded to a computer for processing. In some embodiments, the digital imaging device may be a PictBridge enabled device. In some embodiments, a printer may receive images from a PictBridge enabled device connected to it, have the images processed remotely by a computer accessible from the printer, receive the processed image from the computer and then print the processed image.

Abstract: The present application relates to a printing system, comprising a color printer, which can distinguish an authorized user who can make color prints and an unauthorized user who can make only monochrome prints, but not color printers.

Abstract: The present application relates to a printing system by which the users can notice the discrepancy between printer setting and user's intention before printing and recover such discrepancy easily even if such discrepancy occurs.

Abstract: The present application relates to a printing system of which crash of the spooler process can be recovered easily.

Abstract: Systems and methods for installation of hardware devices are provided. Hardware devices can include a mass storage medium which stores device drivers for one or more operating systems. The device driver stored on the mass storage medium can used for installing the hardware device. When a hardware device is connected to a computer, and it is determined that the software device driver for the particular device has not been installed by the operating system, the operating system can use a device driver stored on the mass storage medium.