The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 11, 1997
Filed:
Nov. 18, 1992
William C Russell, Laguna Hills, CA (US);
Andrew J Kraslavsky, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US);
Robert D Wadsworth, Costa Mesa, CA (US);
Lorraine F Barrett, Yorba Linda, CA (US);
George A Kalwitz, Costa Mesa, CA (US);
Tony K Ip, Lake Forest, CA (US);
Walter D Kuver, Laguna Hills, CA (US);
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
Method and apparatus for interfacing a printer to a local area network includes the use of an interactive network board coupling the printer to the LAN. A bi-directional printer interface is disposed on the board and transmits print data to the printer, and receives printer status data from the printer. ALAN interface is disposed on the board for receiving print job information and printer status requests from the LAN, and for transmitting printer status information to the LAN. A ROM is disposed on the board and stores (i) application programs which receive the print job information and transmit the print data to the printer, and (ii) status and control programs which receive the printer status requests from the LAN, receive printer status data from the printer, transmit the printer status information to the LAN, and receive control information from the LAN and transmit it to the printer. A processor disposed on the board executes both the application programs and the status and control programs. Preferably, the application programs are selectively capable of placing the network board into a plurality of different printer configurations.