Patent ID: 7143150
Filing Date: 2006-11-28
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A graphical user interface for assisting a distributed end user in configuring a computer connected to a printer and to a printer server via a network, the printer being configured to directly communicate with the computer according to a network protocol, and the printer server being configured to control the printer, comprising: a parent window including, a first display control configured to display a resemblance of the printer, a second display control configured to display at least one printer option associated with the printer, and a third display control configured to activate a computer program product resident on the computer, the computer program product causing the computer to transmit commands over the network according to the network protocol, bypassing the printer server, to the printer to retrieve the at least one printer option, wherein the computer transmits Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) commands to the printer to retrieve the at least one printer option, and configured to selectively update a printer driver resident on the computer to include the at least one printer option, wherein, the first and second display controls are graphically updated to reflect the at least one printer option retrieved by the computer program product to notify the distributed end user of the computer about the at least one printer option, and the first display control is updated from an initial representation of a base printer having a base set of printer options to a current representation of the printer having the at least one printer option.