Lexmark International, Inc.

Jeffrey Keith Wedinger

James Francis Webb

Gail Marie Songer

Lloyd Phillip Young

Francis Darrell Rafferty, Jr

Martin Geoffrey Rivers

Kevin Patrick Goffinet

Christopher Mark Songer

John Neil Wellman

Jay Scott Martin

Peter Stewart Davidson, Jr

Carl Lee Colbert

A networked system having a host computer and multiple printers with bi-directional communications capabilities is provided in which the setup (configuration) of one printer can be easily communicated to another printer, using NPAP messages. The host computer can be used by a Network Administrator to 'read' the setup or configuration information inside each of the printers connected to the network that have the required NPAP bi-directional communications capability. This setup information, once communicated to the host computer, can be stored in a long-term memory, such as a hard disk drive, for future reference. The setup information can also be communicated to one or more printers connected to the network, and such printers can be configured by the setup information in which that information is used either as their initial setup information, or as a modified setup. The Network Administrator can use a single command that specifies precisely which printers are to receive that setup information, and all specified printers will automatically be reconfigured with the new setup.

Method and apparatus for configuring the physical setup of multiple

Method and apparatus for configuring multiple printers on a network

An improved networked system having a host computer and multiple printers is provided in which the printers have a bi-directional data communications capability and have at least one memory device capable of storing print data and other types of data files. The host computer can be utilized by a user or a Network Administrator to 'read' the contents of each memory device on each printer connected to the network that has the NPAP bi-directional communications capability. The user/Network Administrator can de-fragment data files (e.g., print job files) on a flash RAM memory device, or can format one of the memory devices of a printer (which deletes all of the files stored on that memory device). Furthermore, the user/Network Administrator can transfer a file from the memory of one of the printers on the network to the memory of a second of the printers on the network. When a given resource management function has been completed, an updated resource directory is automatically displayed at the host which includes all of the changes resulting from the earlier resource management function command. Once the printer receives an NPAP command of the type that accesses the resource management capabilities of the printer, the printer's Emulation Manager will control the execution of the resource management function that has been received. The Emulation Manager communicates the command along with the required arguments to the Common File System, which performs the actual data manipulation of any of the files in the memory devices.

Method and apparatus for providing remote printer resource management

Bidirectional communications between a host computer and a selected printer connected to the host, either locally or by way of a network, are used to provide a user of the host with access to a substantially real-time, visual and functional replica of the operator panel of the selected printer. A user at the host computer may also visually monitor the status of multiple printers at the same time from the same host display.

Multiple printer status information indication

An improved networked system having a host computer and multiple printers is provided in which the printers have a bi-directional data communications capability and have at least one memory device capable of storing print data and other types of data files. The host computer can be utilized by a user or a Network Administrator to 'read' the contents of each memory device on each printer connected to the network that has the NPAP bi-directional communications capability. The user/Network Administrator can transfer a file from the memory of one of the printers on the network to the memory of a second of the printers on the network. When a given resource management function has been completed, an updated resource directory is automatically displayed at the host which includes all of the changes resulting from the earlier resource management function command. Once the printer receives an NPAP command of the type that accesses the resource management capabilities of the printer, the printer's Emulation Manager will control the execution of the resource management function that has been received. The Emulation Manager communicates the command along with the required arguments to the Common File System, which performs the actual data manipulation of any of the files in the memory devices.

Bidirectional communications between a host computer and a printer connected to the host, either locally or by way of a network, are used to provide a user of the host with access to a substantially real-time, visual and functional replica of the operator panel of the printer. The user may view the replica to access all data available through the printer operator panel. Using a mouse or other input device, the user of the host computer can also effectively actuate any pushbuttons or other operator panel control devices depicted as part of the replica.

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Lexington, KY, United States of America

Jeffrey Keith Wedinger