Hewlett-packard Company

Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Daniel R Pearson

David A Kumpf

Dean L Scoville

Glenn R Garcia

Glenn G Carcido

David W McAnaney

A driver of the invention adapts to scan peripherals using information in capability descriptor provided by scan peripherals or a capability descriptor selected based upon scan peripheral model information. A driver of the invention automatically determines a scan peripheral's capabilities using information from the capability descriptor, and uses the information to configure itself from a set of driver modules. A user interface and scan job are then run through options enabled by the appropriate set of driver modules as determined by the capability descriptor. A preferred embodiment server of the invention embodies such an adaptive driver that queries a scan peripheral when it is first connected to the server. If an appropriate capability descriptor is obtained in response to the query, the capability descriptor is stored for use during a scan job. When a scan job using that peripheral is requested, user interface code extracts information from the capability descriptor to allow the user interface to dynamically change dependent upon the peripheral's capabilities as indicated by the information from the capability descriptor. Capabilities indicated by a capability descriptor might include, for example, dots per inch choices, paper sizes, color/grayscale options, image formats, and whether or not a preview scan is supported. The appropriate capabilities become selectable through a user interface at a client computer. When a scan job is directed, scan driver software/firmware uses selected parameters passed by the client and the information from the stored capability descriptor to determine an appropriate command protocol and image encoding. A set of driver modules is then dynamically linked to create an appropriate driver for the scan job.

Adaptive scan driver and scan peripheral

A method for repeating a previous scan operation in a network having a server connected to at least one scanner and at least one client includes saving the scan parameters of the previous scan operation received by the server from the client when a request to perform the previous scan operation is received from the client. The scan parameters of the previous scan operation is displayed when the client queries the server for scan parameters for a present scan operation, and the present scan operation is initiated using the scan parameters of the previous scan operation.

Method for repeating a scan operation in a network

A method and apparatus for decompressing and communicating a predetermined amount of data in a client-server environment in which the server relays communications between a client web browser and at least one shared peripheral device. Compressed data from the peripheral device is decompressed on-the-fly, and is packaged and transmitted to the client web browser. Appropriate logic is provided to ensure that the web browser receives an expected amount of decompressed data regardless of the amount of compressed data provided by the peripheral device. Moreover, logic is provided to reduce the amount of resources required in decompressing the data.

System using buffers for decompressing compressed scanner image data received from a network peripheral device and transmitting to a client's web browser

A network multifunction peripheral server permits simultaneous processing of print and scan jobs from one or more networked clients. The server of the invention connects to a network through a network interface unit, preferably capable of communication via a plurality of predetermined network protocols. It includes one or more ports for connection to a multifunction peripheral through a communication link. Separate print and scan data flows are established for each port by the server. The server also establishes separate logical channels to the port through a protocol which allows multiple logical channels per communication link. Print and scan jobs are handled simultaneously for a single multifunction peripheral through separate print and scan data channels logically established by the server.

Simultaneous print and scan logical channel network multifunction peripheral

An interactive networked client-server scan method launched and actively managed through a web browser interface on a client. A server of the method responds to a universal resource locator address identifying the server with a general purpose format software program that creates an interface in the client web browser and enables the client to interact with the server in initiating, altering and monitoring scan jobs and related data. The server preferably provides peripheral status information to the web browser, and enables the client to initiate preview scans while providing progress updates concerning such scans to the client. Parameter selection and alteration is also a preferred functionality enabled for selection and alteration in the client interface through the general purpose software program provided by the server. The server translates and formats data for the client, and also preferably performs an on-the-fly gamma correction of color data to data prior to transmitting it to the client. Other preferred features include multipage scanning and image scan area selection.

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Roseville, CA, United States of America

Daniel R Pearson