Patent · US Expired

Network printer apparatus and LAN network system

US5982994A · kind A · utility

81Cited by
15References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 8, 1996
Grant dateNov 9, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 8, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06K2215/0011
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A high-speed network printer apparatus which can be used in common by clients having different communication protocols and which can sort out printing jobs into the order of clients. Printing information is supplied from a client which may be a personal computer or a work station through a connector of the printer apparatus. A LAN interface driver receives the printing information and identifies a communication protocol by which the printing information is transferred. A communication protocol controller receives printing information in accordance with a predetermined protocol. A spooling controller, which is coupled to a storage unit which stores the received printing information, creates a queue for printing jobs. A printer controller reads out from the storage unit the printing information corresponding to a printing job of the highest priority which is designated by the queue, and forms a dot image on the basis of the printing information. A printing mechanism prints the image on paper. A mailbox stores printed paper into a designated bin. A printing job table is provided in the printer apparatus, in which each row is allotted to one printing job which includes a field for stor…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.