Metadata retrieval for multi-function devices

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for retrieving metadata relating to a multi-function device. In some embodiments, metadata is retrieved using a plurality of identifiers (e.g., hardware identifiers each identifying at least one function performed by the device) received from the device. The plurality of identifiers are arranged into a sequence, and at least one of the identifiers in the sequence is associated with metadata specifying a characteristic of the device. Using the metadata that is retrieved, a client computer may present an graphical user interface displaying information relating to the device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of configuring a peripheral device by a host device, the method comprising:
 receiving a plurality of functionality identifiers from the peripheral device, each of the plurality of functionality identifiers corresponding to a function of a plurality of functions associated with the peripheral device;   arranging the received plurality of functionality identifiers into a sequence that is at least partially based on specificities of the individual functions corresponding to each of the plurality of functionality identifiers;   comparing at least some of the functionality identifiers to metadata that specifies at least one characteristic of the peripheral device;   identifying an association between one of the at least some of the functionality identifiers and the metadata; and   displaying information regarding the peripheral device on a display device, the information being at least partially based on the identified association.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the method further comprises providing a graphical interface that facilitates configuration of the peripheral device; and   displaying the information includes displaying the information as part of the graphical interface.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the method further comprises providing a unified configuration interface that facilitates configuration of at least two of the plurality of functions associated with the peripheral device; and   displaying the information includes displaying the information in the unified configuration interface.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving a device identifier from the peripheral device, the device identifier corresponding to an identity of the peripheral device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 transmitting at least one of the functionality identifiers to a server device for comparison with other metadata accessible by the server device; and   receiving at least a portion of the other metadata from the server device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device is adapted to provide a printing function and a scanning function. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device is a multi-function peripheral device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device and the host device are interfaced via a Universal Serial Bus (USB) link, a FireWire link, or a network link. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the displayed information includes information relating to configuring the host device to interoperate with the peripheral device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metadata specifies a manufacturer of the peripheral device, at least one task relating to configuring the peripheral device, and/or at least one function that the peripheral device is operable to perform. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metadata includes a photograph of the peripheral device, a graphical illustration of the peripheral device, one or more available configuration tasks for the peripheral device, and/or an indication of a manufacturer of the peripheral device. 
     
     
         12 . A computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions that, in response to execution on a host device, perform a process of configuring a peripheral device for use by the host device, the process comprising:
 receiving a plurality of functionality identifiers from the peripheral device, the individual functionality identifiers of the plurality of functionality identifiers corresponding to individual functions of a plurality of functions that the peripheral device is operable to perform;   arranging the individual functionality identifiers of the received plurality of functionality identifiers into a sequence that is at least partially based on specificities of the individual functions corresponding to the individual functionality identifiers;   comparing at least some of the functionality identifiers to metadata that specifies at least one characteristic of the peripheral device; and   identifying an association between one of the at least some of the functionality identifiers and the metadata.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises:
 providing a unified configuration interface that facilitates configuration of at least two of the plurality of functions that the peripheral device is operable to perform.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving a device identifier from the peripheral device, the device identifier corresponding to a model and/or manufacturer of the peripheral device.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises:
 transmitting at least one of the functionality identifiers to a server device for comparison with other metadata accessible by the server device; and   receiving at least a portion of the other metadata from the server device.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the metadata includes a photograph of the peripheral device, a graphical illustration of the peripheral device, and/or one or more available configuration tasks for the peripheral device. 
     
     
         17 . A host computing device, comprising:
 a memory and at least one processor that are respectively configured to store and execute instructions that:
 receive a plurality of functionality identifiers from a peripheral device, the individual functionality identifiers of the plurality of functionality identifiers corresponding to functions of a plurality of functions that the peripheral device is operable to perform; 
 arrange the received plurality of functionality identifiers into a sequence that is at least partially based on specificities of the functions that individually correspond to the individual functionality identifiers of the received plurality of functionality identifiers; 
 identify an association between one of the at least some of the functionality identifiers and metadata that specifies at least one characteristic of the peripheral device; and 
 provide a unified configuration interface that facilitates configuration of at least some of the functions associated with the peripheral device, the unified configuration interface including information corresponding to the associated metadata that specifies at least one characteristic of the peripheral device. 
   
     
     
         18 . The host computing device of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the memory and the at least one processor are also respectively configured to store and execute instructions that receive a device identifier from the peripheral device;   the device identifier corresponds to a model and/or manufacturer of the peripheral device; and   the unified configuration interface also includes information corresponding to the model and/or manufacturer of the peripheral device.   
     
     
         19 . The host computing device of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the memory and the at least one processor are also respectively configured to store and execute instructions that:
 transmit at least one of the functionality identifiers to a server device for comparison with other metadata accessible by the server device; and 
 receive at least a portion of the other metadata from the server device; and 
   the unified configuration interface also includes information corresponding to the other metadata received from the server device.   
     
     
         20 . The host computing device of  claim 17 , wherein the metadata includes a graphical illustration of the peripheral device and one or more configuration tasks for the peripheral device.