Automatic installation of printers in a distributed environment

The method of claim I wherein the distributed system includes a second network server for a second remote network having a second printer and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

• providing a database of printer configuration information, including printer configuration information for the second printer in the second remote network, in shared memory at the second network server;
• retrieving the printer configuration information for the second printer from the shared memory of the second network server in response to a request from the first workstation, said printer configuration information including information that identifies the second printer;
• using the information that identifies the second printer to identify a printer driver to be installed at the first workstation and to determine where the second printer driver is stored in the distributed system;
• and
• retrieving the second printer driver from where it is stored, installing the identified printer driver at the first workstation and storing at least some of the retrieved printer configuration information in the local storage of the first workstation.

In a distributed system comprising a workstation having local storage and a remote network having at least one printer and a network server, a method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

• providing a database of printer configuration information and printer drivers at the network server for the printers in the network;
• providing a database of printer configuration information and printer drivers for installable printers of the workstation in the local storage of the workstation;
• retrieving available printer configuration information for a selected one of the printers in the network from the network server and providing the available printer configuration information to the workstation;
• and
• determining that the provided printer configuration information is incomplete and in response, accessing the database in the local storage to retrieve complete printer configuration information and a printer driver for the selected printer.

A distributed system comprising:

• a network having at least one printer for executing jobs;
• a network server for regulating access to the network and having a database of printer configuration information for the printer;
• and
• a workstation interfaced with the network and having local storage for issuing a request to execute a print job on the printer in the network, said workstation running an operating system, comprising:
• a retrieval mechanism for retrieving the printer configuration information from the network server in response to the request to execute the print job on the printer, said printer configuration information including information that identifies the printer;
• and
• an installer for using the information that identifies the printer to identify and retrieve a printer driver for the printer, for installing the printer driver at the workstation and for storing at least some of the retrieved printer configuration information in the local storage.

A computer-readable storage medium for use in a distributed system that has a first workstation with a local storage and a remote network having a printer and a network server that stores a database of printer configuration information, including printer configuration information for the printer in the remote network, said medium holding instructions for:

• retrieving the printer configuration information for the printer from the shared memory of the network server in response to a request from the first workstation, said printer configuration information including information that identifies the printer;
• using the information that identifies the printer to identify a printer driver to be installed at the first workstation and to determine where the printer driver is stored in the distributed system;
• and
• retrieving the printer driver from where it is stored, installing the identified printer driver at the first workstation and storing at least some of the retrieved printer configuration information in the local storage of the first workstation.