Network based software agent to allow dynamic resource access

Abstract

A method of enabling a client connected to a foreign computer network to utilize various network resources within the foreign computer network. Wherein, the client may not possess the various applications and drivers typically needed to operate the network resources. For example, a personal digital assistant (PDA) could wirelessly connect to an Ethernet network and print a document located on the Internet without downloading the specific printer driver or the application with which to open the document.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . A method for accessing network resources on a network using a dynamic resource locator agent executing on a first device on the network, the method comprising:
 responsive to the dynamic resource locator agent, the first device transmitting a list of services available from the network resources to a client device connected to the network;   in response to receipt of a task request specifying a processing task to be performed with respect to a document, the dynamic resource locator agent determining one or more of the network resources available to perform the processing task;   the dynamic resource locator agent selecting at least one of the one or more network resources determined to be available;   the dynamic resource locator agent allocating the selected at least one network resource to perform the processing task with respect to the document; and   causing execution of the allocated network based software on at least one network connected device separate from the client device to perform the processing task with respect to the document.   
     
     
         2 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network resources comprise one or more network software resources. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the allocating comprises the dynamic resource locator allocating one or more network software resources. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network resources comprise allocating one or more network hardware resources enabling one or more network hardware resources to perform the processing task with respect to the document. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the task request comprises a request to print the document. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the determining comprises the dynamic resource locator determining one or more network printers available to print the document. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the selecting comprises the dynamic resource locator selecting one of the available printers based on predetermined criteria. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the predetermined criteria comprises one or more of physical proximity, network resource speed, and available network bandwidth. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the determining comprises the dynamic resource locator determining one or more network software resources to print the document. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the determining comprises the dynamic resource locator determining a print driver to print the document. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the determining comprises the dynamic resource locator determining a software application to print the document. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising the dynamic resource locator ascertaining a location of the document and retrieving a copy of the document from the ascertained location. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the dynamic resource locator informing the client device of available ones of the network resources. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, upon completion of the processing task, the dynamic resource locator informing the client that the processing task has been completed. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the dynamic resource locator monitoring the network for requests from client devices for assistance of a dynamic resource locator agent. 
     
     
         38 . Apparatus, comprising:
 a non-transitory memory storing processor-readable instructions for providing client devices access to network resources on a network, and   a processor coupled to the memory, operable to execute the instructions, and based at least in part on the execution of the instructions operable to perform operations comprising:
 transmitting a list of services available from the network resources to a client device connected to the network; 
 in response to receipt of a task request specifying a processing task to be performed with respect to a document, determining one or more of the network resources available to perform the processing task; 
 selecting at least one of the one or more network resources determined to be available; 
 allocating the selected at least one network resource to perform the processing task with respect to the document; and 
 causing execution of the allocated network based software on at least one network connected device separate from the client device to perform the processing task with respect to the document. 
   
     
     
         39 . At least non-transitory one computer-readable medium having processor-readable program code embodied therein for providing client devices access to network resources on a network, the processor-readable program code adapted to be executed by a processor to perform operations comprising:
 transmitting a list of services available from the network resources to a client device connected to the network;   in response to receipt of a task request specifying a processing task to be performed with respect to a document, determining one or more of the network resources available to perform the processing task;   selecting at least one of the one or more network resources determined to be available;   allocating the selected at least one network resource to perform the processing task with respect to the document; and   causing execution of the allocated network based software on at least one network connected device separate from the client device to perform the processing task with respect to the document.