US 6,651,100 B2 · Automatic negotiation of an internet protocol address for a network connected device

Abstract

A method for negotiating an Internet Protocol (IP) address for an imaging apparatus connected to a network includes the steps of controlling network communication between the imaging apparatus and the network; defining an imaging state when the imaging apparatus is available for imaging, wherein during the imaging state the imaging apparatus waits in an idle state during periods of non-imaging; defining an automatic IP address negotiation state when the imaging apparatus is not available for imaging; if the imaging apparatus is in the idle state, then determining whether the imaging apparatus should leave the imaging state and enter the automatic IP address negotiation state; and when the imaging apparatus is in the automatic IP address negotiation state, then attempting to automatically assign an IP address to the imaging apparatus.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method for negotiating an Internet Protocol (IP) address for an imaging apparatus connected to a network, comprising the steps of:

controlling network communication between said imaging apparatus and said network;
defining an imaging state when said imaging apparatus is available for imaging, wherein during said imaging state said imaging apparatus waits in an idle state during periods of non-imaging;
defining an automatic IP address negotiation state when said imaging apparatus is not available for imaging;
determining whether said imaging apparatus is in said idle state;
if said imaging apparatus is in said idle state, then determining whether said imaging apparatus should leave said imaging state and enter said automatic IP address negotiation state;
and
when said imaging apparatus is in said automatic IP address negotiation state, then attempting to automatically assign a first IP address to said imaging apparatus.

4 more elements

An imaging apparatus, comprising:

an imaging engine having firmware defining logic and processing functions;
and
networking hardware communicatively coupled to said firmware, said firmware and said networking hardware selectably providing an imaging state and an automatic Internet Protocol (IP) address negotiation state,
wherein when said imaging apparatus is in said imaging state then said imaging apparatus is available for imaging, and wherein during said imaging state said imaging apparatus waits in an idle state during periods of non-imaging, wherein when said imaging apparatus is in said automatic IP address negotiation state, said imaging apparatus is not available for imaging,
wherein if said imaging apparatus is in said idle state, then said firmware determines whether said imaging apparatus should leave said imaging state and enter said automatic IP address negotiation state;
and
when said imaging apparatus is in said automatic IP address negotiation state, then said firmware being adapted to attempt automatic assignment of an IP address to said imaging apparatus.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automatic negotiation of an internet protocol address for a network connected device

Life of this patent

Automatic negotiation of an internet protocol address for a network connected device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10