Patent ID: 7171442
Filing Date: 2007-01-30
Classification: G06F,G06K

Abstract:
1. A method for supporting printer maintenance in a network environment having a server, at least one network device and a printer, the server containing a plurality of printer configuration files, said method comprising the steps of: accessing one of the printer configuration files which corresponds to the printer, the configuration file including a plurality of printer maintenance function names and a plurality of printer maintenance commands corresponding to the printer maintenance function names; generating an HTML-based page corresponding to the printer, the HTML-based page containing each of the printer maintenance function names from the accessed printer configuration file; and sending the HTML-based page to the network device, wherein, upon selection in the network device of one of the printer maintenance function names in the HTML-based page, the server sends to the printer the printer maintenance command which corresponds to the selected printer maintenance function name, and wherein each of the printer configuration files includes a plurality of printer maintenance function data sets, wherein each printer maintenance function data set includes a printer maintenance function name, and a printer maintenance function command parameter, further including a command parameter indicator which, when set to a first value, indicates that the printer maintenance function command parameter is a printer maintenance function command and, when set to a second value, indicates that the printer maintenance function command parameter represents a command file containing a printer maintenance function command.