Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.P.

Hewlett-packard Company

Rosa Aurora Lozano

Thomas M Tripp

Andrew Wilkinson

Heidi Hodges

An automated method of detecting the internet protocol (IP) address of a network printer that is in communication with a computer having a registry permits the printer to be tested in a way that bypasses any print driver software. The test thus determines whether the printer is operative and communicating with the computer, and the test is unaffected by possible defects in the print driver software. A list of printers which the registry indicates have been installed on the computer is first generated, this list including the network printer. One or more vectors are then generated which contain any IP or URL addresses, port names, or printer names that the registry associates with the network printer, its port, its port monitor, or its server. The internet protocol (IP) address of the network printer is then retrieved either directly from these vectors, if it can be found there; or it is retrieved from a domain name server or its equivalent in response to submitting to the server all or a part of the printer's name, its port name, or its URL.

Method and apparatus for detecting printer internet protocol addresses

A program checks for installed printers, asks the users to select printers to be tested, and then proceeds to test for communications with the printer, print spooling and driver integrity as well as the driver's appropriateness for the operating system and for language and also whether newer and more current drivers are available. A report is then presented to the user indicating the status of the printer and, if appropriate, offering the user one click installation of a repaired, more appropriate, or updated driver.

Method and apparatus for automating printer and printer driver diagnostics and repair

A method is used for monitoring network traffic. For a plurality of time periods, percent utilization of one or more network segments is determined. This is done in order to generate utilization data. The utilization data is organized to produce organized utilization data. The first organized utilization data indicates a percent frequency of the plurality of time periods during which the first network segment is at least equal to each value of percent utilization. The first organized utilization data is displayed in a graph. The graph has a first axis which indicates percent utilization and a second axis which indicates percent frequency.

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Roseville, CA, United States of America

Rosa Aurora Lozano