Method of discovering and installing clients for digital copier services

In a network comprising a directory server, a mail server, a deployment server, at least one workstation, and at least one intelligent peripheral device, an installation method for notifying at least one potential user of the availability of said at least one intelligent peripheral device and configuring said at least one workstation to use said at least one intelligent peripheral device, said installation method comprising the steps of:

• (a) examining an all-users file stored in a directory server;
• (b) creating and storing a potential-users file in said directory server having a network address;
• (c) providing at least one intelligent peripheral device with said network address of said directory server;
• (d) getting at least one potential user from said potential-users file;
• (e) determining whether said potential user is a current user;
• (f) determining whether said potential user has previously declined an offer to have at least one workstation configured to use said at least one intelligent peripheral device;
• (g) sending an announcement to said at least one potential user;
• (h) receiving a response to said announcement;
• (i) determining whether said at least one potential user wants to have said at least one workstation configured to use said at least one intelligent peripheral device;
• (j) determining whether said at least one potential user wants to have said at least one workstation configured to use said at least one intelligent peripheral device at a later time;
• (k) configuring said at least one workstation to use said at least one intelligent peripheral device;
• and
• (l) adding said at least one potential user to a current-users file.

A network in which at least one potential user is notified of the presence of at least one intelligent peripheral device and at least one workstation is conveniently configured to use said at least one intelligent peripheral device, said network comprising:

• (a) at least one intelligent peripheral device communicatively coupled to said network, said at least one intelligent peripheral device including a device memory for storing a process for determining potential users of said intelligent peripheral device and sending an announcement to each said potential user, said device memory for storing a message protocol and a protocol for linking a target object to a client;
• (b) at least one workstation, said at least one workstation communicatively coupled to said network, said at least one workstation including a workstation memory for storing said message protocol and said protocol for linking to a target object to a client;
• and
• (c) at least one deployment server computer for serving said target object to said at least one workstation, said at least one deployment server computer communicatively coupled to said network.

A network in which at least one current user is notified of the presence of at least one configuration upgrade for at least one intelligent peripheral device and at least one workstation is conveniently configured to use said at least one configuration upgrade, said network comprising:

• (a) at least one intelligent peripheral device communicatively coupled to said network, said intelligent peripheral device having a memory for storing a process for determining whether at least one current user of said intelligent peripheral device needs said at least one configuration upgrade and sending an announcement to said at least one current user;
• (b) at least one workstation, said at least one workstation communicatively coupled to said network, said at least one workstation including a workstation memory for storing a message protocol and a protocol for serving a target object to a client;
• and
• (c) at least one deployment server computer for serving a target object to said at least one workstation, said at least one deployment server computer communicatively coupled to said network.