Patent ID: 6223223
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A method of supporting at least one peripheral in a network including at least one client with a general purpose software capability and a server connected to the peripheral, the method comprising steps of:the server waiting for a client to attempt to open a connection with the peripheral;the client sending a peripheral connection request to the server;the server accepting connection with the client via exchange of data packets;the server determining availability of the peripheral and locking the peripheral so that it cannot be used by other clients;the server opening a connection with the peripheral if it is available and notifying the client of the peripheral availability;the server waiting for predetermined data from the client, which when received, results in the client having control of the peripheral for at least a first predetermined time period;the server waiting for data from the peripheral and when received sends the data to the client;the server closing the connection with the client upon completion of sending the data to the client.