Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-28
2002-12-24
Nguyen, Cao H. (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06498611
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to computer systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method to provide a virtual operator panel for a peripheral device in connection with one or more host computers where the specific settings for the peripheral device are unknown to the host computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computers and common peripheral devices such as modems, printers, and displays are connected in communication such that a computer, generally referred to as the host, can send data and receive data from the peripheral devices and other computers. The communication channel between the computer(s) and devices may be either unidirectional, such that one computer or peripheral device only sends or only receives data to another, or bidirectional, with each device both sending and receiving data. In either instance, one computer or peripheral device can serve either single or multiple hosts which is dependent upon the operational capabilities of the devices.
A typical device-host connection is a cable connected directly to the serial or parallel port of both the host and the peripheral device such that the peripheral device primarily serves the connected host. Alternatively, a computer and peripheral device are connected in a network and each device is accessible to and can interface with multiple hosts residing on that network. In order to properly interface, the computer(s) and peripheral device(s) must have a known data protocol between them whereby each device can understand the data from one another.
The interface protocol is particularly important in host-peripheral device applications in which the host is controlling the peripheral device to perform a function. The data passed from the host to the peripheral must be very specific in the desired function, and often, the peripheral device will communicate with the host to inform the host of the properties and functions of the peripheral device. An example of such interface is that between a computer as the host device and a printer as the peripheral device through a known protocol such as the Network Printer Alliance Protocol (NPAP).
A printer has numerous setting capabilities, a few examples being paper size, font, and paper type, which are often changed for every single print job requested by a host computer. Furthermore, prior art printers have the capability to send data back to the host computer indicative of various parameters of the printer, such as job in progress, paper jam, paper tray status, and printing errors. Thus, when the computer and printer are interfaced, they pass the above data regarding the print jobs and printer status through data variables that reflect the attributes of one parameter. And when the attributes of printing parameter are desired to be changed, the computer sends specific variables to the printer and each variable changes one parameter of the printer. Given the significant number of parameters for the printer and the specific control desired by the host computer, several problems are recurrent in the, host computer-peripheral device interface.
The host computer and peripheral device can be unaware of the all of the variables for different parameters the other devices, such as the variables for specific printer settings and capabilities, or the inter-relationship between different variables and their related parameters and functions. Accordingly, when a printer attempts to provide this “self-descriptive” data, such as configuration data, to a host computer, or when the host computer attempts to change several settings in the printer, the variables utilized may not effectively communicate all parameters of the devices. Because of this inadequate communication between interfaced devices in prior art systems, hosts and peripheral devices have been unable to easily provide conceptual settings to a user, such as “print quality” or “page layout.”
Moreover, either the host or the peripheral device may need to update many variable settings on their underlying hardware for proper functioning, especially through upgrades and changes in software. To correctly update the variables, the host must have advance knowledge of the variables and their interdependence to even allow the user to change the variables. Further, other problems can occur because subsequent code releases in the device tend to change those interdependencies by changing the settings of the individual variables or adding new dependencies. Even though the device may be aware of the new interdependencies, if the dependencies are not easily stored and communicated to other systems in the device, confusion and extra development time may result as those variables are changed.
More recently, in an attempt to provide low-cost peripheral devices, such as printers, expensive components such as LCD displays or specific control buttons are often excluded. The control buttons or display provides the simplest manner for the user to configure the device. Thus, to overcome the lack of a specific button or display to directly actuate the settings for the peripheral device, several devices provide an electronic (virtual) replica of an operator panel for the peripheral device, typically upon the display screen of a host computer. However, there are several problems with existing virtual operator panels.
A typical virtual operator panel allows a host utility to display a replica of the device panel, but without providing improved functionality, and only duplicate the existing display of the peripheral device. Another problem arises in that when the peripheral device includes advanced or complicated settings and the representations of which would clutter the virtual operator panel and confuse a novice user. A further problem occurs when the peripheral device must be configured with settings that can not be easily entered at the peripheral device, and example being settings that require alphabetic characters that are not easily represented without an alphanumeric keyboard., Such problems leave the user or customer engineer unable to easily configure or check on the configuration of the peripheral device from a remote location or at the device itself.
Currently, host computers attempt to provide access to the peripheral device settings with several limitations. The host computer must know in advance the valid values for each setting in lo the peripheral device, and the meaning of each value if a textual representation is required. The host computer must also know translated strings if the peripheral device is to provide multi-language support. Furthermore, the host computer must know all settings in the device, and the default values for each setting which can be represented.
These requirements to provide a virtual operator panel challenge the host programmer. Although most printers support similar emulations, they do not all support a common language. Another challenge is that the specific value can change from device to device and potentially from code release to code release of the peripheral device. This means the host computer must keep track of the values on a device by device basis, and sometimes a code level by code level basis, which is commonly accomplished through software updates. This update is critical because setting an incorrect value on the peripheral device at least results in the user not getting the desired setting, and possibly can causes the peripheral device to crash.
Unfortunately, a crash resulting from an incorrect settings might not occur immediately and the user will not make a connection between setting the value for the peripheral device and the crash. Such a crash results in additional cost to the company in the form of support calls, on-site service or lost sales due to unsatisfied customers, and can cause economic impairment for the customer.
Accordingly, to provide an accurate and effective virtual operator panel for a peripheral device, the capability to understand the interdependencies between public settings and pri
Beard Eric Andrew
Borchers, II Robert Jerome
Goldey Evan Glenn
Rudolph Craig Anthony
Lexmark International Inc.
Nguyen Cao H.
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