Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    This invention relates to server-client systems and, in particular, to a server-client system in which system configuration information for a server is stored on a client.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    In a typical server-client system, a server computer is connected to several client computers or terminals via a network. In such server-client systems, applications are executed at the server rather than at the client. The server transmits display information to the client for display at the client, and user inputs (e.g., via keyboard or mouse) at the client are transmitted to the server for processing by an application(s) executing at the server. The “client” may be an entire client computer, or alternatively an application executing at the client computer.  
           [0003]    A server in such a system typically has an operating system that can run several client sessions concurrently. Each client user has access to various resources of the server, including the processor, data storage, application programs, etc. Software applications that are resident on the server are available to each client for independent execution by the client. Each session is independent from the other sessions and, therefore, one client cannot access information relating to another client. In this manner, the server provides a logically independent machine for each client connected to the server.  
           [0004]    Client users frequently use peripheral devices at the client machines. For example, a user may wish to attach a printer to the user&#39;s client computer (a “local” printer) in order to print data generated by an application that is running on the server computer. To do this, the user must manually install the local printer and redirect the printer queue created by the server to the I/O port of the client computer to which the printer is connected. Such manual installation of peripheral devices is undesirable because it requires significant time and effort on the part of the user.  
           [0005]    A co-pending application (U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______) entitled “Automatic Detection And Installation Of Client Peripheral Devices By A Server”, to Tad Brockway, Madan Appiah, Adam Overton, and Ritu Bahl, filed concurrently herewith, describes a system in which peripheral devices attached to the client are automatically detected and corresponding device drivers installed at the server.  
           [0006]    However, not all client peripheral devices can be automatically detected and installed. For example, if a printer is an older model that was manufactured before automatic detection technology was developed, it will not generate an identifier signal that is recognizable by the client or the server. Or, if the attached printer is a newer model but the client runs an older operating system that does not recognize the newer model printer or that does not have automatic peripheral detection capability, such as Windows® 3.1, it is necessary for the user to manually install the printer on the server.  
           [0007]    A major drawback of this situation is that the printer must be installed each time the client connects to the server. For example, if a user installs a client printer on a server and subsequently disconnects the client from the server, the server configuration information relating to the printer is deleted. When the user reconnects to the server, the user must manually install the same printer again.  
           [0008]    Adding to this inconvenience is the fact that if the user desires to operate the printer utilizing printer parameter settings that are different from the default settings, the user must also change the parameter settings each time the user connects to the server. For instance, if the default paper tray is the letter-size tray but the user always uses the legal-size paper tray, the user will have to set the paper tray parameter every time the user connects to a server and installs the printer.  
           [0009]    The technology described below addresses these disadvantages, as it provides for client-side caching of server configuration information as well as peripheral device parameter settings. When the client is reconnected to a server after having been disconnected from a server session, the cached information is automatically transmitted to the server, where it is restored. The client user is thus relieved of the burden of having to manually install the printer or reset its parameter settings every time the client is connected to a server.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0010]    A server-client environment provides for client-side caching of information related to a peripheral device so that the client may automatically restore the information to a server upon connection or reconnection with the server. Peripheral devices that may be connected to the client include printers, scanners, card readers, zip drives, etc. For discussion purposes, reference herein will be made to a printer. After the printer is initially configured on the server, subsequent installations are automatic. The client user is thus relieved from having to manually install the printer each time the user connects to a server.  
           [0011]    It is noted that the term “install” has different meanings in the art. In a hardware context, “install” refers to physically connecting a peripheral device to a computer. In a software context, “install” refers to installing the software related to a connected peripheral device. If the peripheral device is a printer, a printer driver is installed and a printer queue is created. Unless otherwise noted, the term “install” as used herein means installing software that is related to a connected peripheral device. The peripheral device is physically connected to the client, but the software related to the peripheral device is installed on the server.  
           [0012]    In a server/client environment, there may be no means for automatic detection and installation of peripheral devices, such as a printer, that are attached at the client. If so, then a client user must manually install a printer driver to render the printer operational. The user interaction required to install and configure the printer on the server are performed at the client, but the printer is installed on the server.  
           [0013]    After the printer is manually installed on the server from the client, the portion of the server configuration that relates to the printer is sent to the client, where it is stored. In addition, printer parameter settings are sent to the server where they are returned to the client for storing with the server configuration information. When the server/client session in which the printer has been installed is terminated, the printer configuration on the server is deleted.  
           [0014]    It is also noted that the technology as described herein may be implemented in a server/client system in which client peripheral devices are automatically detected and installed according to the method described in the above-referenced co-pending application. Utilizing the present technology in such a system provides the advantages described herein.  
           [0015]    Subsequent installations are automatic, regardless of whether the client is connected to the same server or to a different server, or whether the initial installation was manual or automatic. When the connection is established, the client sends the cached server configuration and printer settings data to the server. The server utilizes this data to restore the printer configuration and printer settings to the state in which they were in prior to the termination of the session. The process is performed automatically, requiring little, if any, user interaction. Therefore, after the initial installation, the client user is provided with automatic printer installation on the client for that particular printer, and the previous printer settings are automatically restored. In addition, the installation and restoration are automatic even if the client (and printer) connects to a different server.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like components and/or features.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a server/client system.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a server/client system.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method for client-side caching of server configuration information and automatic installation of a peripheral device.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a method for client-side caching of printer parameter settings and updating same. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 shows a server/client computer system  30  having a server  32 , a first client  34  and a second client  36  interconnected via a network  38 . The server  32  and the clients  34 ,  36  have modems or network cards, which facilitate access (direct or otherwise) to the network  38  so that the server  32  and the clients  34 ,  36  can exchange information over the network  38 . The clients  34 ,  26  each have a desktop  40 ,  42  interface displayed. In this embodiment, the server  32  and the clients  34 ,  36  are conventional computers.  
         [0022]    It is noted that, although the server/client computer system  30  depicted in FIG. 1 has a first client  34  and a second client  36 , there may be one to any number of clients connected to the server  32 . The number of clients that may be connected to a server is limited only by the architecture of a particular server.  
         [0023]    The server  32  is configured to provide a logically independent machine for each client  34 ,  36  connected to the network  38 . That is, the server  32  establishes a session for each client  34 ,  36 , provides the desktop  40 ,  42  for each client  34 ,  36 , and makes server resources available to each client  34 ,  36 . Such resources include, but are not limited to, allocations of processor time, memory, data storage, video processing, application programs, etc. A user of either of the clients  34 ,  36  interacts with the desktop  40 ,  42  on the client  34 ,  36  to run software applications that reside on the server  32 . While the user provides input to and receives output from the client  34 ,  36 , most processing is performed at the server  32 .  
         [0024]    The network  38  provides a communications link between the server  32  and the clients  34 ,  36  through which data is transmitted. The network  38  may be a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, or the like, provided that it can accommodate server/client functionality.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 shows a server/client system  50  having a server  52  and a client  54 . The server  52  includes a processor  56  and memory  58 . The server  52  also has a network port  60 , which facilitates access to the network  38 . The network port  60  may be implemented as a modem, network card, or other device that interfaces the server  52  to the network  38 .  
         [0026]    The server  52  can be implemented as a common personal computer or other type of computer, such as a laptop computer, etc. The server  52  runs an operating system  62  which is stored in memory  58  and executes on the processor  56 . The operating system  62  is a multitasking operating system such as a Windows® brand operating system from Microsoft Corporation (e.g., Windows® 98, Windows® 95, Windows® NT, or other derivative of Windows®). However, other operating systems may be used.  
         [0027]    The server  52  has a printing subsystem  64  implemented in the operating system  62  stored in memory  58 . The printing subsystem  62  is used to direct all operations involving printers and printing, including installing printers, creating and managing printer queues, removing printers, uninstalling printers, etc. The printing subsystem includes a configuration tracking unit  66  that is configured to monitor server configuration with regard to client peripheral devices that are installed on the server  52 . This aspect of the printing subsystem  64  will be discussed in greater detail below.  
         [0028]    The server  52  is shown having a printer driver  70  and a printer queue  72  installed and resident within the memory  58 . It is noted, however, that the server  52  will only include the printer driver  70  and the printer queue  72  when a printer has been connected to the system  50  and installed on the server  52 . The printer driver  70  is a printer-specific software program that provides an interface between a printer and the server  52  and allows the server  52  to provide print functions via a printer. When the printer driver  70  is installed on the server  52 , the printer queue  72  is created. The printer queue  72  accepts print jobs from the server  52  and queues them for printing. It is noted that if the peripheral device is a device other than a printer, the printer driver will be a device driver for that peripheral device, if a device driver is required by the peripheral device.  
         [0029]    The server  52  may also include a redirected printer port  74 . The redirected printer port  74  is a virtual port created by the server  52  in the event that the server is unable to identify and install a compatible driver for a client-side printer. The redirected printer port  74  is exposed by the server and can be attached to a printer queue using standard printer queue creation techniques.  
         [0030]    It is also noted that, although one printer driver  70  and one printer queue  72  are shown in the memory  58 , there may be more than one printer driver or more than one printer queue  72  stored in the memory  58 —corresponding to different client sessions. Also, the printer driver  70  and the printer queue  72  shown are accessible only for the session established for the client  54 . The memory  58  may contain other printer drivers and printer queues that are installed for other sessions executing on the server  52 . Printer drivers and printer queues installed for other sessions on the server  52  are not available for access by the client  54 .  
         [0031]    The client  54  includes memory  76 , a processor  78 , and an I/O port  80  having a printer  82  connected thereto. Although the client  54  is shown as having only one I/O port  80 , it is noted that the client  54  may include more than one I/O port. The printer  82  has multiple printer settings  84 , such as paper size, paper orientation, printing quality, etc. Printer settings  84 ′ is a copy of the printer settings  84  that are stored in the memory  76  of the client  54  via a method that will be discussed in detail below. The memory  76  also stores server configuration information  86 . The server configuration information  86  is data monitored by the configuration tracking unit  66  of server  52 .  
         [0032]    As previously noted, the configuration tracking unit  66  of server  52  is configured to monitor server configuration information relating to client peripheral devices that are installed on the server  52 . In the illustrated example of a printer, such configuration information includes, but is not limited to, data associated with the printer driver  70 , the printer queue  72 , the redirected printer port  74 , the printer settings  84 , the I/O port  80  to which the printer  82  is connected, etc.  
         [0033]    The server sends this configuration information  86  to the client  54 , where it is stored in memory  76 . The configuration information  86  related to the installation of the printer  82  is therefore readily available in the event that the configuration information  86  is required to be restored on the server  52 . If the configuration information  86  subsequently needs to be restored on the server  52 , the configuration information  86  is simply transmitted from the client  54  to the server  52 .  
         [0034]    The configuration tracking unit  66  is configured to detect new device installations, and can also detect when a peripheral device is removed from a system, and when a system user renames an I/O queue associated with a device. For example, if the printer  82  is removed from the system, or if the client user wishes to manually delete the printer queue  72  from the system  50 , the client  54  sends notification to the server  52  to remove the printer  82 . In response, the server removes all data structures related to the printer  82  (e.g., printer driver  70  and printer queue  72 ) from the server. The server will then send updated server configuration information  86  to the client  54 , where it is stored in memory  76 . When the updated information  86  is stored in the memory  76  of the client  54 , it simply overwrites the old information.  
         [0035]    Likewise, if a user renames the printer queue  72 , the server will send updated server configuration information  86  to the client  54 , where it is stored in memory  76 .  
         [0036]    Similar to the server  52 , the client  54  also has a network port  88  to facilitate access to the network  38 . The network port  88  may be implemented as a modem, network card, or other device which interfaces the client  54  to the network  38 .  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram depicting a method for client-side caching of server configuration information and printer settings, and for automatically installing a peripheral device upon subsequent connection to a server. The method is described with continuing reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.  
         [0038]    At step  200  in FIG. 3, the client  54  sends a request to the server  52  to install the printer  82  on the server  52 . At this time, or immediately thereafter, the printer settings  84  are also sent to the server  52 . When the server  52  receives the install request from the client  54 , the server performs a manual installation of the printer  82  on the server  52  at step  202 . Manual installation refers to a client user being required to identify the printer driver  70  associated with the printer  82  as well as the I/O port  80  to which the printer  82  is connected. The server prompts the user for this information through the I/O interface of client  54 .  
         [0039]    When the installation is complete, the configuration tracking unit  66  of the printing subsystem  64  sends server configuration information  86  to the client (step  204 ). At step  206 , the client  54  stores the server configuration information  86  and the printer settings  84  in the memory  76 .  
         [0040]    When the client session has concluded, the client  54  is disconnected from the server  52  (step  208 ). Whenever the client  54  is disconnected from the server  52 , all data structures associated with peripheral devices attached to the client  52  are deleted from the server  52 .  
         [0041]    At step  210 , the client  54  is reconnected to the server  52 . It is noted that, although the client  54  in this example is reconnected to the server  52 , the client  54  may be connected to a different server (not shown) in another server/client system (not shown). The methodology is the same whether the client  54  is connected to the server  52  or to a different server (not shown). This is another advantage to the present invention in that, once the printer  82  is manually installed on the server  52 , subsequent installations—whether they be on the server  52  or on another server (not shown)—are automatic.  
         [0042]    Upon reconnection with the server  52 , the client  54  transmits the server configuration information  86  that was stored during the previous connection, to the server  52 . The printer settings  84  are also sent to the server  52 . At step  212 , the server  52  utilizes the server configuration information  86  received from the client  54  to automatically install the printer  82  on the server  52 . This automatic installation is performed with minimal user interaction.  
         [0043]    Once the printer  82  has been automatically installed on the server, the configuration tracking unit  66  of the server  52  sends the server configuration information  86  and the printer settings  84 ′ to the client  54  (step  214 ). Upon receipt of this data, at step  216 , the client  52  stores the server configuration information  86  and the printer settings  84  in memory  76 .  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 4 is a flow diagram depicting a method for client-side caching of server configuration information and printer settings, and for automatically updating peripheral device settings on the server. The method is described with continuing reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. It is noted that the method of FIG. 4 is performed contemporaneously with the method described in FIG. 3. However, for discussion purposes, the methods are described separately.  
         [0045]    At step  300  in FIG. 4, the client  54  sends a request to the server  52  to install the printer  82  on the server  52 . At this time, or immediately thereafter, the printer settings  84  are also sent to the server  52 . When the server  52  receives the install request from the client  54 , the server performs a manual installation of the printer  82  on the server  52  at step  302 . Manual installation refers to a client user being required to identify the printer driver  70  associated with the printer  82  as well as the I/O port  80  to which the printer  82  is connected.  
         [0046]    When the installation is complete, the configuration tracking unit  66  of the printing subsystem  64  sends server configuration information  86  to the client (step  304 ). At step  306 , the client  54  stores the server configuration information  86  and the printer settings  84 ′ in the memory  76 .  
         [0047]    At step  308 , the system  50  detects if the user makes any changes to the printer settings  84 . If so, the changed printer settings  84  are sent to the server  52  at step  310 . At step  314 , the server  52  receives the updated printer settings  84 . The updated printer settings  84  are sent to the client  54  at step  316 . The client  54  then stores the updated printer settings  84  at step  316 .  
         [0048]    As described in the discussion for FIG. 3, the printer settings  84 ′ are sent from the client  54  to the server  52  when the client  54  is reconnected to the server  52 . By updating the cached printer settings  84 ′ as they are updated by the user, the desired printer settings  84  are always restored when the client  54  is reconnected to the server  52 .  
       CONCLUSION  
       [0049]    The system and method as described herein provide a user with a way to automatically install peripheral devices on a server after they have been redirected on the server one time from a client. In addition, the user&#39;s device settings preferences are preserved from session to session, thereby saving the user from having to manually update these settings whenever a server-client connection is established. Once a manual installation has been performed, subsequent installations are automatic, whether the client is reconnected to the same server, or to a different server.  
         [0050]    Although the invention has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or steps described. Rather, the specific features and steps are disclosed as preferred forms of implementing the claimed invention.

Technology Category: 5