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:
Dec. 22, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 18, 1996
Kevin Agatone, Broomall, PA (US);
Roman Orzol, Marlton, NJ (US);
Tim Deppa, Cherry Hill, NJ (US);
Jon Hopkins, Brookfield, WI (US);
Ponna Arumgam, Medford, NJ (US);
Oki America, Inc., Hackensack, NJ (US);
Abstract
The present invention discovery of a printer having a particular printer type in a network is disclosed. A socket having a socket identifier (ID)) associated with the printer type is provided to allow communication between the network and the printer. In a socket poll mode, the socket awaits and obtains outgoing data from the network tagged with the socket ID and sends the obtained outgoing data to the printer. In a socket listen mode, the socket awaits and obtains incoming data from the printer and sends the obtained incoming data to the network. A printer information object is provided for storing printer information associated with the printer once the printer is discovered. A timer provides a periodic timing signal TICK. The printer is periodically polled once every N TICKs. During each poll, the socket is placed in the poll mode, polling data is sent to the socket for receipt by the printer, the socket is placed in the listen mode, and a determination is made of whether the socket has obtained printer data from the printer. If printer data is obtained, it is determined whether the printer has been previously discovered based on whether the printer information object has stored printer information for the printer. If not previously discovered, printer information for the printer is created and stored in the printer information object.