Abstract:
The method of the invention enables installation of a network printer onto a client processor and employs a server for managing printer installations. Initially, the server receives a printer identifier message from the network printer and then creates an executable installation program using identifier information from the printer identifier message. Thereafter, the server transmits an e-mail message to the client processor, which e-mail message includes an executable printer driver installation program. Upon receipt of the e-mail message, the client processor recognizes the executable installation program and, upon installation thereof, to utilize the network printer.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a method and apparatus for enabling remote installation of printer driver software onto a client processor, the software allowing access to a shared network printer and, more particularly, to use of an E-Mail message to accomplish such an installation. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Enabling a client processor to employ a newly added printer over a network connection is often a complex task. To provide for installation of such a newly added printer, an administrator generally must first configure a print queue on a print server that is coupled to the network. Then, print queues must be configured on each network-connected computer that is to serve as a client for the new printer. 
     The most common method used today to enable installation of printer driver software onto a network-connected client processor is via manual notification. More specifically, the network administrator verbally informs users of the presence of a new network printer and then manually sets up the new printer driver software on each client work station. This procedure is both tedious and expensive for the administrator, especially if the clients are located at remote sites. 
     Another prior art method for installation of such software on a network-connected client processor involves the administrator sending an E-Mail message to each of the interested users that describes the process for installation of the new network printer. Each user is then, individually, responsible for such installation on his/her client processor. To accomplish such installation, each user must enter the various configuration parameters for the new printer on the local client processor. This technique is used by the Microsoft “Point-and-Print” procedure. Experience has shown that many users do not understand the process and require assistance to correct errors that have been made during the installation process. 
     A still further method for enabling a network printer driver software installation on a client processor involves a technique utilized by the Novell Distributed Print System (NDPS). The NDPS procedure requires the installation of specialized client software on each of the user&#39;s machines, which client software enables detection of a message and installation of new network printer driver software. The disadvantage of the NDPS procedure is that it requires an administrator to install the specialized software on each client machine. 
     Presently, the Microsoft “Windows” operating system (“Windows” is a trademark of the Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash.), includes a procedure which recognizes an “.exe” extension on a received program handle as an executable program. The Windows operating system can then automatically execute an installation of the .exe program so long as the remainder of the program handle includes any necessary instruction data, such as an “install” indication. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for installation of a printer driver program for a newly connected, shared network printer onto a network-connected client processor. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for enabling a client processor to install printer driver software for a network-connected printer, wherein the user is not required to enter printer-related parameters into the installation program. 
     It is still another object of this invention to enable a client processor that is connected to a network to automatically install a printer driver for a network printer, wherein the client processor requires no special software to accomplish the installation program. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The method of the invention enables installation of a network printer onto a client processor and employs a server for managing printer installations. Initially, the server receives a printer identifier message from the network printer and then creates an executable installation program using identifier information from the printer identifier message. Thereafter, the server transmits an e-mail message to the client processor, which e-mail message includes an executable printer driver installation program. Upon receipt of the e-mail message, the client processor recognizes the executable installation program and, upon installation thereof, is enabled to utilize the network printer. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system incorporating the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a logical flow diagram illustrating the method of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary objective of the invention is to enable installation of printer driver software for a network printer onto a client processor, without requiring substantial user intervention in the process. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1, a network  10  includes a plurality of processing elements connected thereto. Initially, assume that it is desired to connect printer  12  to network  10  and to enable it to be utilized by one or more client processors  14 , without requiring the operators of client processors  14  to be involved in installing the printer driver software. Printer  12 , in this instance, is coupled to a host processor  16  and further includes a network card  18 . Network card  18  enables printer  12  to recognize an interconnection to network  10  and, in conjunction with host processor  16 , to perform certain network-related identifier functions. 
     In specific, network card  18 , upon sensing an occurrence of a network connection, causes printer  12 , under control of host processor  16 , to issue a Service Location Protocol (SLP) packet onto network  10 . An SLP packet includes, among other data, the printer&#39;s name, its model number, its hardware address, its host&#39;s name and its IP address. 
     A server  20  is coupled to network  10  and includes a central processing unit (CPU)  22  that is coupled to a memory  24  which includes a number of procedures that are utilized to carry out the invention. More specifically, memory  24  includes a background monitoring procedure  26  which continually monitors data flowing on network  10  and, in this instance, recognizes the presence of an SLP packet message thereon. Upon sensing an SLP packet, server  20  checks to determine if printer folder  28  has a printer object for printer  12 . Assuming that no such printer object exists, server  20  creates a printer object  29  with the data acquired from the SLP packet issued by printer  12 . 
     A printer/client installer procedure  30  (hereafter referred to as PCIP  30 ) monitors printer folder  28  and detects the addition of a new printer object (e.g. printer object  29 ). PCIP  30  then configures an executable printer installation program for the one or more client processors  14  that may wish to utilize new printer  12 . To accomplish such configuration, PCIP  30  accesses a shell executable installation program  32  and, employing the identifier data from printer object  29 , populates shell executable installation program  32  with the necessary parameters received from printer  12 . This results in the creation of a new printer executable installation program (NPIP)  34 . 
     Thereafter, PCIP  30  causes e-mail procedure  36  to prepare an e-mail message to a group of client processors (of which client processor  14  is one) and to attach NPIP  34  thereto. That e-mail message is then dispatched to its recipients, including client processor  14 , via an e-mail server  40  that is coupled to network  10 . 
     In the known manner, e-mail server  40  stores the e-mail message along with NPIP  34  in a mailbox  42  reserved for client processor  14 . Thereafter, when a user causes client processor  14  to log-on to e-mail server  40 , a download of the contents of mailbox  42  is enabled, and the e-mail message and attached NPIP  34  are loaded into the memory  44  in client processor  14 . Assuming that client processor  14  includes the Windows operating system and, further, that the data in NPIP  34  has an appropriate suffix (e.g, .exe), the Windows operating system recognizes the attached NPIP  34  messages as an executable program. The user may then undertake to install NPIP  34  onto client processor  14 . Importantly, the user is not required to enter any printer or network partameters to accomplish the installation. Such installation adds the name of printer  12  to a list of network printers available for use by client processor  14  and a printer access procedure with all necessary data to enable communications between client processor  14  and printer  12 , without requiring further user intervention. 
     Accordingly, a system administrator, operating server  20  can easily inform interested client processors of newly installed network printers simply by dispatching e-mail messages to the respective client processors. Further, users of the new network printer can install the printer driver software onto their client processors by running a delivered executable, either automatically, or with user intervention. Since the executable is customized for each printer, no user inputs are required and thus the chance for error is minimized. Further, the invention does not require any specialized software on the client processors to perform the installation. Any commonly available e-mail client software, running under a Windows operating system will operate the invention. 
     The description above has assumed that each of the software procedures required to perform the method of the invention are already loaded into memory  24  on server  20 . Those skilled in the art will understand that the procedures stored in memory  24  can also be incorporated into a memory media device  48 , so as to be available on an as-needed basis by CPU  22 . Further, it is to be understood that the controlling software in memory  24  is likely to be delivered to server  20 , either directly via memory media  48  or by a further client processor downloading the code from memory media  48  to server  20 . 
     Turning now to FIG. 2, the method of the invention is illustrated in the form of a logical flow diagram. Initially, it is assumed that new printer  12  is plugged into a network terminal and a network card  18  installed on the new printer, detects the presence of network  10  (step  50 ). Thereafter, network card  18 , in conjunction with Host Processor  16  that controls new printer  12  causes dispatch of an SLP packet (step  52 ). As indicated above, the SLP packet includes the printer&#39;s name, its model number, hardware address, host name, IP address, etc. 
     Thereafter, print server  20  detects the SLP packet and creates a new printer object  29  in its printer folder  28  (step  54 ). Upon detecting the creation of new printer object  29 , printer/client installer procedure (PCIP)  30  modifies shell executable installation procedure  32  with the new printer parameters and creates a new printer executable installation program (NPIP)  34  (step  56 ). 
     PCIP  30  then attaches NPIP  34  to an e-mail message. As above-indicated, the e-mail message includes whatever suffix is required to enable a client processor operating system to recognize the message as executable. 
     Thereafter, PCIP  30  dispatches the e-mail message to the client processors that are listed as desiring such messages, e.g., client processor  14  (step  58 ). At some later time, each client processor downloads the e-mail message, along with its attached NPIP  34  (step  60 ). 
     Under control of their respective operating systems, the respective client processors recognize the executable state of the NPIP  34 . A user at each respective client processor may then proceed with installation. To accomplish such installation, the user needs not enter any data regarding the new printer into NPIP  34  but rather, just to “install” the program on the client processor (step  62 ). 
     It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. For instance, it has been assumed that printer server  20  becomes aware of printer  12  as a result of a message received via network  10 . The invention also contemplates that printer server  20  could become aware of network printer  12  as a result of a direct input of the printer identification data to printer server  20  by a system administrator. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.