Method and apparatus for automatically enabling communication with a

Abstract

The method of the invention enables a new printer to automatically communicate over a network with client processors connected to the network. The network is at least partially controlled by a network server which, for each respective printer, stores an 'agent' data structure. The agent data structure maintains information about the respective client-accessible printer. The method includes the steps of: responding to a message from a new printer by storing printer identification data included in the message; establishing an instance of an agent data structure using data from the message; communicating with the new printer to obtain further data concerning the new printer for addition to the agent data structure; establishing an instance of a communication data structure and inserting data in that data structure to configure a communication procedure which enables communication with both the newly connected printer and the printer's agent data structure; and responding to a printer request from a client processor by employing the communication data structure to automatically establish a communication pathway between the client processor and the new printer and providing data regarding the new printer from the agent data structure to the client processor for use thereby.