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US6101555A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Methods and apparatus for communicating between networked peripheral devices

Assignee: RPX Corp
•
Filing: 1998-01-12
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Granted: 2000-08-08
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Expires: 2018-01-12
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Abstract

Abstract Disclosed is a method and apparatus for establishing communication to a remote peripheral device over a network. The method includes issuing a request to use a peripheral device to a remote communications dynamically linked list, and determining whether the peripheral device is a local peripheral device or a remote peripheral device. The method further includes sending the request over a network to a remote computer that has a server application when the peripheral device is the remote peripheral device. The server application is configured to enable sharing of peripheral devices that are connected to the remote computer. Preferably, the system registry of the computer making the request is altered to enable efficient communication with the remote peripheral device.

Inventors

  • 👤 Michael Goshey
  • 👤 Maureen McMahon

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 16:51
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L61/00; H04L61/45; H04L61/4541; G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/445; G06F9/44505; H04L41/00; H04L41/22; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/12; H04L67/125

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim 87 words
A method for establishing communication to a remote peripheral device over a network, comprising: issuing a request to use a peripheral device to a remote communications dynamically linked list; determining whether the peripheral device is a local peripheral device or a remote peripheral device; and sending the request over a network to a remote computer that has a server application when the peripheral device is the remote peripheral device, the server application being configured to enable sharing of peripheral devices that are connected to the remote computer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 87 words
A method for establishing communication to a remote peripheral device over a network, comprising: issuing a request to use a peripheral device to a remote communications dynamically linked list; determining whether the peripheral device is a local peripheral device or a remote peripheral device; and sending the request over a network to a remote computer that has a server application when the peripheral device is the remote peripheral device, the server application being configured to enable sharing of peripheral devices that are connected to the remote computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 79 words
A method for establishing communication to a remote peripheral device over a network as recited in claim 1, further comprising: altering a system registry of a local computer that is making the request, so that the request is first sent to the remote communications dynamically linked list before the determining of whether the peripheral device is the local peripheral device that is connected to the local computer or the remote peripheral device that is connected to the remote computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 36 words
A method for establishing communication to a remote peripheral device over a network as recited in claim 2, wherein the local computer uses a local dynamically linked list to send requests to the local peripheral device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 46 words
A method for establishing communication to a remote peripheral device over a network as recited in claim 3, wherein the altering of the system registry of the local computer that is making the request is performed when a client application is loaded onto the local computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method for establishing communication to a remote peripheral device over a network as recited in claim 4, wherein the client application enables communication to the server application of the remote computer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
A method for establishing communication to a remote peripheral device over a network as recited in claim 2, wherein the request is an advanced SCSI programming interface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 33 words
A method for establishing communication to a remote peripheral device over a network as recited in claim 6, wherein the request is initiated by an application that is running on the local computer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 33 words
A method for establishing communication to a remote peripheral device over a network as recited in claim 7, further comprising: determining if a call is from a 32-bit program or a 16-bit program.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 35 words
A method for establishing communication to a remote peripheral device over a network as recited in claim 8, wherein when the call is from the 32-bit program, the request is executed in a multi-thread format.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 35 words
A method for establishing communication to a remote peripheral device over a network as recited in claim 9, wherein when the call is from the 16-bit program, the request is executed in a single-thread format.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 103 words
A apparatus for communicating with remote peripheral devices that are networked to a local computer, comprising: a system registry having a modified path; a local communication dynamic linked list that is configured to initially communicate with a remote communication dynamic linked list when the system registry has the modified path, the remote communication dynamic linked list communicating with a remote host adapter when a request is for a remote peripheral device, and the remote communication dynamic linked list communicating back to the local communication dynamic linked list for communication with a local host adapter when the request is for a local peripheral device.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 103 words
A apparatus for communicating with remote peripheral devices that are networked to a local computer, comprising: a system registry having a modified path; a local communication dynamic linked list that is configured to initially communicate with a remote communication dynamic linked list when the system registry has the modified path, the remote communication dynamic linked list communicating with a remote host adapter when a request is for a remote peripheral device, and the remote communication dynamic linked list communicating back to the local communication dynamic linked list for communication with a local host adapter when the request is for a local peripheral device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 30 words
A apparatus for communicating with remote peripheral devices that are networked to a local computer as recited in claim 11, wherein the request is an advanced SCSI programming interface request.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 30 words
A apparatus for communicating with remote peripheral devices that are networked to a local computer as recited in claim 12, wherein the local communication dynamic linked list is a WNASPI32.DLL.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 31 words
A apparatus for communicating with remote peripheral devices that are networked to a local computer as recited in claim 12, wherein the remote communication dynamic linked list is a ScanLAN DLL.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 47 words
A apparatus for communicating with remote peripheral devices that are networked to a local computer as recited in claim 13, wherein the WNASPI32.DLL further comprises: a first function for finding the local host adapter; and a second function for communicating SCSI commands to the local host adapter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 48 words
A apparatus for communicating with remote peripheral devices that are networked to a local computer as recited in claim 14, wherein the ScanLAN DLL further comprises: a first function for finding the remote host adapter; and a second function for communicating SCSI commands to the remote host adapter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 33 words
A apparatus for communicating with remote peripheral devices that are networked to a local computer as recited in claim 11, wherein the remote peripheral device and the local peripheral device are SCSI devices.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 29 words
A apparatus for communicating with remote peripheral devices that are networked to a local computer as recited in claim 11, wherein the remote peripheral device is a SCSI scanner.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 93 words
A system for establishing communication to a remote peripheral device over a network, comprising: means for issuing a request to use a peripheral device to a remote communications dynamically linked list; means for determining whether the peripheral device is a local peripheral device or a remote peripheral device; and means for sending the request over a network to a remote computer that has a server application when the peripheral device is the remote peripheral device, the server application being configured to enable sharing of peripheral devices that are connected to the remote computer.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 93 words
A system for establishing communication to a remote peripheral device over a network, comprising: means for issuing a request to use a peripheral device to a remote communications dynamically linked list; means for determining whether the peripheral device is a local peripheral device or a remote peripheral device; and means for sending the request over a network to a remote computer that has a server application when the peripheral device is the remote peripheral device, the server application being configured to enable sharing of peripheral devices that are connected to the remote computer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 81 words
A system for establishing communication to a remote peripheral device over a network as recited in claim 19, further comprising: means for altering a system registry of a local computer that is making the request, so that the request is first sent to the remote communications dynamically linked list before the determining of whether the peripheral device is the local peripheral device that is connected to the local computer or the remote peripheral device that is connected to the remote computer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 36 words
A system for establishing communication to a remote peripheral device over a network as recited in claim 20, wherein the local computer uses a local dynamically linked list to send requests to the local peripheral device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 46 words
A system for establishing communication to a remote peripheral device over a network as recited in claim 21, wherein the altering of the system registry of the local computer that is making the request is performed when a client application is loaded onto the local computer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 31 words
A system for establishing communication to a remote peripheral device over a network as recited in claim 22, wherein the client application enables communication to server application of the remote computer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 27 words
A system for establishing communication to a remote peripheral device over a network as recited in claim 20, wherein the request is an advanced SCSI programming interface.
Claim 28
Independent Claim 97 words
A method for establishing communication to peripheral device, comprising: altering a system registry so that a local communication dynamic linked list initially communicates with a remote communication dynamic linked list; issuing a request to use a peripheral device to the remote communication dynamic linked list; if the request is for a remote peripheral device, communicating with a remote host adapter from the remote dynamic linked list; and if the request is for a local peripheral device, communicating back to the local dynamic linked list from the remote dynamic linked list for communication with a local host adapter.
Claim 29
Independent Claim 97 words
A method for establishing communication to peripheral device, comprising: altering a system registry so that a local communication dynamic linked list initially communicates with a remote communication dynamic linked list; issuing a request to use a peripheral device to the remote communication dynamic linked list; if the request is for a remote peripheral device, communicating with a remote host adapter from the remote dynamic linked list; and if the request is for a local peripheral device, communicating back to the local dynamic linked list from the remote dynamic linked list for communication with a local host adapter.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 101 words
A computer readable media containing program instructions for establishing communication to a remote peripheral device over a network, comprising: program instructions for issuing a request to use a peripheral device to a remote communications dynamically linked list; program instructions for determining whether the peripheral device is a local peripheral device or a remote peripheral device; and program instructions for sending the request over a network to a remote computer that has a server application when the peripheral device is the remote peripheral device, the server application being configured to enable sharing of peripheral devices that are connected to the remote computer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 101 words
A computer readable media containing program instructions for establishing communication to a remote peripheral device over a network, comprising: program instructions for issuing a request to use a peripheral device to a remote communications dynamically linked list; program instructions for determining whether the peripheral device is a local peripheral device or a remote peripheral device; and program instructions for sending the request over a network to a remote computer that has a server application when the peripheral device is the remote peripheral device, the server application being configured to enable sharing of peripheral devices that are connected to the remote computer.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 2003-08-08 2004-02-07 2004-08-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-08-08 2008-02-07 2008-08-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-08-08 2012-02-07 2012-08-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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