Patent US5280585A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5280585A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device sharing system using PCL macros
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1990-09-28
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Granted: 1994-01-18
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Expires: 2010-09-28
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a switch that allows a peripheral device, such as a PCL printer, to be shared by multiple computer systems. The switch connects to each of the computer systems, and also to the peripheral device being shared. The first system is considered the primary user of the peripheral device, so when the second system requests access to the peripheral device, the switch causes the peripheral device to save its state temporarily while the second system uses the device. When the second system's use is complete, the switch causes the peripheral device to restore its state to the last state established by the first system. Therefore, the first system need not know that the other system used the peripheral device, since the state of the peripheral device appears unchanged from the last time the first system used the device.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard L. Kochis
- 👤 Michael D. Erickson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 08:30
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/12; G06F3/1201; G06F3/1202; G06F3/1211; G06F3/1296; G06F3/1223; G06F3/1237; G06F3/126; G06F3/1278; G06F3/1285
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A system for sharing a printer between a first computer and a second computer, said system comprising: a first interface connected between said system and said first computer for transferring data and commands from said first computer to said system; a second interface connected between said system and said second computer for transferring data and commands from said second computer to said system; a printer interface connected between said system and said printer for transferring data and commands from said system to said printer; means for connecting said first interface to said printer interface; and means for interrupting said connecting of said first interface and for connecting said second interface to transfer information to said printer interface, said means for interrupting comprising means for copying data received from said second interface to a predefined macro within a memory of said system, and means for transferring said predefined macro from said memory to said printer interface, whereby said macro and said copied data are transferred to said printer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
167 words
A system for sharing a printer between a first computer and a second computer, said system comprising: a first interface connected between said system and said first computer for transferring data and commands from said first computer to said system; a second interface connected between said system and said second computer for transferring data and commands from said second computer to said system; a printer interface connected between said system and said printer for transferring data and commands from said system to said printer; means for connecting said first interface to said printer interface; and means for interrupting said connecting of said first interface and for connecting said second interface to transfer information to said printer interface, said means for interrupting comprising means for copying data received from said second interface to a predefined macro within a memory of said system, and means for transferring said predefined macro from said memory to said printer interface, whereby said macro and said copied data are transferred to said printer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for interrupting further comprises means for continuously examining said first interface and said second interface and for connecting said second interface to said printer interface upon receiving a datum or a command from said second interface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 2 further comprising means for disconnecting said second interface from said printer interface and reconnecting said first interface to said printer interface if said second computer sends a termination signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 2 further comprising means for disconnecting said second interface from said printer interface and reconnecting said first interface to said printer interface if said second interface has not received a datum or a command for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said predefined macro causes said printer to save a previous state of said printer prior to printing said copied data and causes said printer to restore said previous state of said printer after printing said copied data.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
174 words
A system for sharing a printer between a host computer and a facsimile receiver, said system comprising: a host interface, connected between said host computer and said system, for transferring data and commands from said host computer to said system; a fax interface, connected between said facsimile receiver and said system, for transferring data and commands from said facsimile receiver to said system; a printer interface, connected between said system and said printer, for transferring data and commands from said system to said printer; means for connecting said host interface to said printer interface; and means for interrupting said connecting of said host interface to said printer interface and for connecting said fax interface to said printer interface to transfer information to said printer transfer means, said means for interrupting comprising means for copying data received from said fax interface to a predefined macro within a memory of said system, and means for transferring said predefined macro to said printer interface, whereby said predefined macro and said copied data are transferred to said printer.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
174 words
A system for sharing a printer between a host computer and a facsimile receiver, said system comprising: a host interface, connected between said host computer and said system, for transferring data and commands from said host computer to said system; a fax interface, connected between said facsimile receiver and said system, for transferring data and commands from said facsimile receiver to said system; a printer interface, connected between said system and said printer, for transferring data and commands from said system to said printer; means for connecting said host interface to said printer interface; and means for interrupting said connecting of said host interface to said printer interface and for connecting said fax interface to said printer interface to transfer information to said printer transfer means, said means for interrupting comprising means for copying data received from said fax interface to a predefined macro within a memory of said system, and means for transferring said predefined macro to said printer interface, whereby said predefined macro and said copied data are transferred to said printer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said means for interrupting further comprises means for continuously examining said host interface and said fax interface and for connecting said fax interface to said printer interface upon receiving a datum or a command from said fax interface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 7 further comprising means for disconnecting said fax interface from said printer interface and reconnecting said host interface to said printer interface if said fax interface sends a termination signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 7 further comprising means for disconnecting said fax interface from said printer interface and reconnecting said host interface to said printer interface if said fax interface has not received a datum or a command for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said predefined macro causes said printer to save a previous state of said printer prior to printing said copied data and causes said printer to restore said previous state of said printer after printing said copied data.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
172 words
A system for sharing a printer between a first computer and a second computer, said system comprising: a first interface connected between said system and said first computer for transferring data and commands from said first computer to said system; a second interface connected between said system and said second computer for transferring data and commands from said second computer to said system; a printer interface connected between said system and said printer for transferring data and commands from said system to said printer; means for connecting said first interface to said printer interface; and means for interrupting said connecting of said first interface, without interrupting said first computer, and for connecting said second interface to transfer information to said printer interface, said means for interrupting comprising means for copying data received from said second interface to a predefined macro within a memory of said system, and means for transferring said predefined macro from said memory to said printer interface, whereby said macro and said copied data are transferred to said printer.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
172 words
A system for sharing a printer between a first computer and a second computer, said system comprising: a first interface connected between said system and said first computer for transferring data and commands from said first computer to said system; a second interface connected between said system and said second computer for transferring data and commands from said second computer to said system; a printer interface connected between said system and said printer for transferring data and commands from said system to said printer; means for connecting said first interface to said printer interface; and means for interrupting said connecting of said first interface, without interrupting said first computer, and for connecting said second interface to transfer information to said printer interface, said means for interrupting comprising means for copying data received from said second interface to a predefined macro within a memory of said system, and means for transferring said predefined macro from said memory to said printer interface, whereby said macro and said copied data are transferred to said printer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said means for interrupting further comprises means for continuously examining said first interface and said second interface and for connecting said second interface to said printer interface upon receiving a datum or a command from said second interface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 12 further comprising means for disconnecting said second interface from said printer interface and reconnecting said first interface to said printer interface if said second computer sends a termination signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 12 further comprising means for disconnecting said second interface from said printer interface and reconnecting said first interface to said printer interface if said second interface has not received a datum or a command for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said predefined macro causes said printer to save a previous state of said printer prior to printing said copied data and causes said printer to restore said previous state of said printer after printing said copied data.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-01-17 | 1997-07-19 | 1998-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-01-17 | 2001-07-19 | 2002-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-01-17 | 2005-07-19 | 2006-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |