Network printer groups
US6606162B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 21, 1999 |
| Grant date | Aug 12, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 21, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/1229
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
One or more printers on a network are grouped together to form a printer group. A printer group server contains a database of the printer groups on the network. The printer group database includes a list of printers assigned to each printer group in the database. The printer group server communicates with a printer group client and a print server. The printer group client subscribes to one or more of the printer groups. The printer group client resides on a print client device and manages a set of print queues on the print client device. Each printer queue represents one of the printers in the printer groups to which the printer group client subscribes. A printer group is updated by making changes to the printers in the printer group and updating the printer group database to reflect the changes. A change in the printer group database initiates a change in the print queues managed by the printer group client for printer group clients that subscribe to the updated printer group.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.