US5862404A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Network device discovery and status information distribution using independent information distribution processes
Assignee: Toshiba America Information Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1997-02-12
•
Granted: 1999-01-19
•
Expires: 2017-02-12
Abstract
Abstract In a networked system having workstations, file servers and intelligent peripheral devices, the intelligent peripheral devices are capable of determining information concerning their device status and communicating the device status information via a communications line. The file server obtains the device status information from the peripheral device and stores this information as a file readable by the workstations.
Inventors
- 👤 Tyson N. Onaga
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:07
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/12; G06F3/1201; G06F3/1223; G06F3/1229; G06F3/1202; G06F3/1203; G06F3/1204; G06F3/1278; G06F3/1285; G06F3/1288
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
A computer network system in which workgroup peripherals are efficiently administered, the computer network system comprising: (a) a first general purpose computer including a no-volatile memory and software for storing device status information in a first device status file in the non-volatile memory; (b) a first intelligent peripheral device associated with the first computer and communicatively coupled to the first computer by a computer network and including software for determining information concerning current device status of the first intelligent peripheral device and communicating to the first computer via the network the current device status information periodically for storage in the first device status file; (c) a plurality of workstations communicatively coupled to the first computer by the computer network, the workstations including software for requesting the device status information stored in the first device status file, receiving the device status information and displaying the device status information; the software in the intelligent peripheral device for determining information concerning current device status of the first intelligent peripheral device and communicating to the first computer via the network the current device status information periodically for storage in the first device status file independently of the plurality of workstations; whereby device status information is efficiently communicated from the first intelligent peripheral device to the workstations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
A computer network system in which workgroup peripherals are efficiently administered, the computer network system comprising: (a) a first general purpose computer including a no-volatile memory and software for storing device status information in a first device status file in the non-volatile memory; (b) a first intelligent peripheral device associated with the first computer and communicatively coupled to the first computer by a computer network and including software for determining information concerning current device status of the first intelligent peripheral device and communicating to the first computer via the network the current device status information periodically for storage in the first device status file; (c) a plurality of workstations communicatively coupled to the first computer by the computer network, the workstations including software for requesting the device status information stored in the first device status file, receiving the device status information and displaying the device status information; the software in the intelligent peripheral device for determining information concerning current device status of the first intelligent peripheral device and communicating to the first computer via the network the current device status information periodically for storage in the first device status file independently of the plurality of workstations; whereby device status information is efficiently communicated from the first intelligent peripheral device to the workstations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
A computer network system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a second intelligent peripheral device communicatively coupled to the first computer by the computer network and including software for determining information concerning current device status of the second intelligent peripheral device and communicating to the first computer by the computer network the current device status information periodically for storage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A computer network system as set forth in claim 2, the software on the first computer further for storing device status information from the first intelligent peripheral device in the first device status file and for storing device status information from the second intelligent peripheral device in a second device status file.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer network system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the device status information from the second peripheral is stored in the first device status file.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer network system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the first computer can provide the device status information for both the first intelligent peripheral device and the second intelligent peripheral device to the requesting workstation in response to the request.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A computer network system as set forth in claim 1 wherein, upon a request for an update made by a network administrator from one of the workstations, the first intelligent peripheral device can communicate to the first computer via the network the current device status information for storage in the first device status file.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A computer network system as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one workstation includes software for discovering intelligent peripheral devices coupled to the computer network system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
A computer network system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the device status information comprises: (a) a unique network address for the first intelligent peripheral device; (b) whether the first intelligent peripheral device is up or down; and (c) if the first intelligent peripheral device is down, how long it has been down.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A computer network system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the device status information also comprises, in an instance when the first intelligent peripheral device is down, whether a network administrator has been notified that the first intelligent peripheral device is down.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
97 words
A computer network system a set forth in claim 1 further comprising: (a) a second computer including software for storing device status information in a second device status file; and (a) a second intelligent peripheral device associated with the second computer and communicatively coupled to the second computer by the computer network and including software for determining information concerning current device status of the second intelligent peripheral device and communicating to the second computer via the network the current device status information of the second intelligent peripheral device periodically for storage in the second device status file.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A computer network system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the second computer further includes a pointer to the first device status file on the first computer and accessible by the workstations.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
A computer network system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first intelligent peripheral device comprises a control unit and a hard output device, the control unit for interfacing between the hard output device and the first computer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
189 words
A control unit associated with a hard output device comprising: (a) a first communication means for communicating with the hard output device and obtaining device status information from the hard output device; (b) a second communication means for communicating with a file server linked to the control unit via a network, the file server having a non-volatile memory and providing services to a plurality of workstations linked to the file server via the network, the second communications means for relaying device status information with respect to the hard output device to the file server for storage in the non-volatile memory; (c) memory resident software which, independently of the workstations, periodically polls the hard output device for device status information via the first communication means and relays the device status information to the file server via the second communication means; and (d) memory resident software capable of accepting a device discovery request and responding to the device discovery request by periodically polling the hard output device for device status information via the first communication means and relaying the device status information to the file server via the second communication means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
189 words
A control unit associated with a hard output device comprising: (a) a first communication means for communicating with the hard output device and obtaining device status information from the hard output device; (b) a second communication means for communicating with a file server linked to the control unit via a network, the file server having a non-volatile memory and providing services to a plurality of workstations linked to the file server via the network, the second communications means for relaying device status information with respect to the hard output device to the file server for storage in the non-volatile memory; (c) memory resident software which, independently of the workstations, periodically polls the hard output device for device status information via the first communication means and relays the device status information to the file server via the second communication means; and (d) memory resident software capable of accepting a device discovery request and responding to the device discovery request by periodically polling the hard output device for device status information via the first communication means and relaying the device status information to the file server via the second communication means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
64 words
The control unit as set forth in claim 13 wherein the first communication means is a SCSI line, the second communication means is a network interface adapter linking the control unit communicatively with a computer network, where the memory includes as resident a network operating system and software which provides initialization, configuration, network and peripheral device access, device status, and control and storage functions.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for providing to at least one workstation on a network status information concerning an intelligent peripheral device on the network, the method comprising: in a first phase, performed independently of the at least one workstation; (a) the intelligent peripheral device periodically determining its current device status; (b) the intelligent peripheral device communicating its current device status to a first computer, wherein the first computer includes a non-volatile memory; (c) the first computer storing the device status in a device status file in the non-volatile memory; and in a second phase; the at least one workstation on the network obtaining the contents of the device status file in the first computer.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for providing to at least one workstation on a network status information concerning an intelligent peripheral device on the network, the method comprising: in a first phase, performed independently of the at least one workstation; (a) the intelligent peripheral device periodically determining its current device status; (b) the intelligent peripheral device communicating its current device status to a first computer, wherein the first computer includes a non-volatile memory; (c) the first computer storing the device status in a device status file in the non-volatile memory; and in a second phase; the at least one workstation on the network obtaining the contents of the device status file in the first computer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the device status file includes information comprising: (a) a unique network address for the intelligent peripheral device; (b) whether the intelligent peripheral device is up or down; (c) if the intelligent peripheral device is down, how long it has been down; and (d) if the intelligent peripheral device is down, whether a network administrator has been notified that the intelligent peripheral device is down.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 15 comprising the additional steps of: (a) a network administrator accessing the device status file and being notified if an intelligent peripheral device is down; and (b) if an intelligent peripheral device is down, updating the device status file to reflect that the network administrator has been notified that the intelligent peripheral device is down.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 16 comprising initialization steps of: (a) a given workstation discovering the intelligent peripheral device on the network; (a) creating a device status file on the first computer, the device status file including identifying information about the intelligent peripheral device; (b) the first computer obtaining status information from the intelligent peripheral device; and (c) writing the status information for the intelligent peripheral device in the device status file in the first computer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 18 including the additional step of a process resident in the network administrator's workstation warning the system administrator against performing discovery.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the initialization steps are performed by a system administrator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4556959A
Cited
US4974199A
Cited
US4941084A
Cited
US4818993A
Cited
US5007013A
Cited
US4897781A
Cited
US4835673A
Cited
US4839793A
Cited
US5220674A
Cited
US5031115A
Cited
US5109486A
Cited
US5123089A
Cited
US5214772A
Cited
US5084875A
Cited
US5119493A
Cited
US5633999A
Cited
US5239627A
Cited
US5323393A
Cited
US5537626A
Cited
US5537550A
Cited
US5638530A
Cited
US5550957A
Cited
US5631847A
Cited
US5682514A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-01-18 | 2002-07-20 | 2003-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-01-18 | 2006-07-20 | 2007-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-01-18 | 2010-07-20 | 2011-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |