Client side caching of printer configuration

Abstract

A server-client system is configured to store, on a client, server configuration information relating to a peripheral device connected at the client and parameter settings for the peripheral device. The information is updated as changes occur. After the client has been disconnected from the system and the peripheral device uninstalled, the peripheral device is automatically installed and the parameter settings restored without requiring significant user interaction when the client reconnects. The automatic installation and restoring is performed even if the client is connected to a different server than it was originally.

1 - 46 . (Cancelled).  
   
   
       47 . A system that facilitates installing a peripheral device, comprising: 
 a first computer that executes an application and has software installed thereupon related to a peripheral device, which is utilized with the application;    a second computer that is coupled to the peripheral device and stores information, which is related to the installation of the peripheral device, that is received from the first computer, the information is utilized to reinstall the peripheral device.    
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 47 , the first computer deletes the installed software upon disconnection with the second computer.  
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 48 , further comprising: 
 the second computer transmits the information to the first computer; and    the first computer receives the information and utilizes the information to reinstall the software related to the peripheral device.    
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 48 , further comprising: 
 the second computer transmits the information to a disparate third computer; and    the disparate third computer receives the information and utilizes the information to install the software related to the peripheral device.    
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 47 , the information is utilized to automatically reinstall the peripheral device.  
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 47 , the information is at least one of data associated with a driver, a queue, settings of the peripheral device, an I/O port of the second computer that communicates with the peripheral device, and a redirected peripheral port of the first computer.  
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 the first computer retransmits updated information upon alteration of peripheral device settings; and    the second computer receives and stores the updated information.    
   
   
       54 . The system of  claim 47 , the peripheral device comprises a printer.  
   
   
       55 . The system of  claim 47 , the second computer is coupled to the peripheral device via at least one of a wired connection and a wireless connection.  
   
   
       56 . The system of  claim 47 , the first computer comprises a configuration tracking unit that monitors a configuration of the first computer related to the installed peripheral device.  
   
   
       57 . The system of  claim 47 , the software related to the peripheral device is initially installed automatically on the first computer.  
   
   
       58 . The system of  claim 47 , the software related to the peripheral device is initially installed manually on the first computer via the second computer.  
   
   
       59 . A system that facilitates restoring configuration information of a peripheral device on a first computer, comprising: 
 a configuration tracking unit that detects installation of a peripheral device on the first computer, the peripheral device is coupled to a disparate computer and is utilized with an application that executes via the first computer; and    a transmitter that sends configuration information associated with the installation to the disparate computer where the configuration information is stored.    
   
   
       60 . The system of  claim 59 , the configuration tracking unit further detects when the peripheral device is removed and facilitates uninstalling of the peripheral device from the computer.  
   
   
       61 . The system of  claim 60 , the configuration tracking unit further detects reinstallation of the peripheral device and receives the configuration information stored on the disparate computer, which is utilized for reinstallation.  
   
   
       62 . The system of  claim 59 , the configuration tracking unit further identifies alterations associated with the installation of the peripheral device on the first computer.  
   
   
       63 . The system of  claim 62 , the transmitter further sends updated configuration information to the disparate computer to be stored.  
   
   
       64 . A system that facilitates installing a peripheral device, comprising: 
 an I/O port that couples to a peripheral device that is utilized with an application which is executed on a disparate computer;    a receiver that obtains configuration information related to the peripheral device; and    a data store that stores the configuration information.    
   
   
       65 . The system of  claim 64 , further comprising a transmitter that sends the configuration information to the disparate computer to reinstall the peripheral device.  
   
   
       66 . The system of  claim 64 , further comprising a transmitter that sends the configuration information to a second disparate computer to install the peripheral device.  
   
   
       67 . The system of  claim 64 , the receiver further obtains updated configuration information when alterations are made to the configuration of the peripheral device.  
   
   
       68 . A system that facilitates installation of a peripheral device, comprising: 
 means for transmitting configuration information, which is related to a peripheral device, from a first computer that executes an application that utilizes the peripheral device to a second computer that is coupled to the peripheral device; and    means for storing the configuration information on the second computer.    
   
   
       69 . The system of  claim 68 , further comprising means for uninstalling the peripheral device from the first computer.  
   
   
       70 . The system of  claim 69 , further comprising: 
 means for transmitting the configuration information from the second computer to the first computer; and    means for reinstalling the peripheral device on the first computer utilizing the configuration information.    
   
   
       71 . The system of  claim 70 , further comprising: 
 means for transmitting the configuration information from the second computer to a third computer; and    means for installing the peripheral device on the third computer utilizing the configuration information.    
   
   
       72 . The system of  claim 71 , further comprising means for updating the configuration information stored on the second computer via retransmitting the altered configuration information.  
   
   
       73 . A method for facilitating installation of a peripheral device, comprising: 
 installing support on a first computer for a peripheral device attached at a second computer;    transmitting configuration information related to the peripheral device from the first computer to the second computer; and    storing the transmitted configuration information at the second computer.    
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising transmitting the configuration information from the second computer to the first computer upon reconnection of the second computer and the first computer.  
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising: 
 disconnecting the second computer from the first computer;    establishing a new connection between the second computer and the first computer;    transmitting the configuration information stored at the second computer to the first computer; and    automatically restoring the support for the peripheral device at the first computer utilizing the transmitted configuration information.    
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising: 
 disconnecting the second computer from the first computer;    establishing a new connection between the second computer and a disparate third computer;    transmitting the configuration information stored at the second computer to the disparate third computer; and    automatically installing support for the peripheral device on the disparate third computer utilizing the transmitted configuration information.    
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising: 
 transmitting peripheral device settings of the peripheral device from the second computer to the first computer upon the establishment of a connection between the second computer and the first computer;    transmitting the peripheral device settings from the first computer to the second computer together with the configuration information; and    storing the peripheral device settings at the second computer.    
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 77 , further comprising retransmitting the peripheral device settings from the second computer to the first computer upon alteration of the peripheral device settings.  
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising: 
 uninstalling support for the peripheral device;    transmitting updated configuration information from the first computer to the second computer, the updated configuration information indicates that support for the peripheral device at the first computer has been uninstalled; and    removing the stored configuration information at the first computer.