Apparatus and method for identifying a digital device based on the device's uniform device descriptor file that specifies the attributes of the device in a XML document in a networked environment

[0002] This invention relates generally to the operation of digital devices in a networked environment. More particularly, this invention relates to an Extensible Markup Language (XML) based technique to identify and operate a networked digital device.

[0003] Digital devices continue to proliferate. A digital device is an object with a digital circuit that processes digital data. Examples of digital devices include computers, printers, scanners, pagers, digital cameras, fax machines, digital copiers, personal digital assistants, digital appliances, digital telephones, digital projectors, and digital video recorders. The foregoing list is exemplary, the invention is applicable to additional devices, many of which will be developed in the future.

[0004] When a digital device is connected to another digital device, it is necessary to specify a common operating system and connectivity scheme. If a common operating system and connectivity scheme are not used, various device drivers must be used to emulate a common scheme. This results in substantial administrative and maintenance expenses for digital devices. Many digital devices do not have the memory or computing power to execute a set of diverse device drivers. As a result, it is not practical to form networked connections between digital devices, unless all of the digital devices share a common operating system and connectivity scheme. This limitation curtails the utilization of digital devices.

[0005] It would be highly desirable to provide a mechanism to more fully exploit the use of digital devices. In particular, it would be highly desirable to provide a technique for linking a digital device to a network regardless of the connectivity scheme and operating system used within the network. Ideally, such a scheme would allow easy identification of a digital device within a networked environment. It would also be desirable to utilize the scheme to support the administration and maintenance of digital devices in a networked environment.

[0006] The method of the invention is implemented with one or more digital devices operating in a networked environment. The method includes the step of storing a network address (e.g., an Internet Protocol (IP) address or a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) link) for each digital device of a set of digital devices within a networked environment. A Uniform Device Descriptor file is associated with each digital device of the set of digital devices. Each Uniform Device Descriptor file characterizes a set of attributes associated with its corresponding digital device. Specified attributes in a search request are precisely matched with attributes in a Uniform Device Descriptor file to render a selected digital device.

[0007] The apparatus of the invention is a computer readable memory to direct one or more digital devices in a networked environment to function in a specified manner. A digital device list specifies a network address for each digital device of a set of digital devices within a networked environment. A set of Uniform Device Descriptor files includes individual Uniform Device Descriptor files, each of which characterizes a set of attributes associated with a corresponding digital device of the set of digital devices. A search module matches specified attributes in a search request with attributes in a Uniform Device Descriptor file to render a selected digital device.

[0008] The invention provides a technique for linking a digital device to a network regardless of the connectivity scheme and operating system used within the network. The invention utilizes a web browser to identify digital devices within a networked environment. The web browser can also be used to operate digital devices within the networked environment. The scheme of the invention also supports the administration and maintenance of digital devices in the networked environment. As discussed below, embodiments of the invention operate without a web browser, yet still exploit the benefits of the invention.

[0009] For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a networked environment in which the present invention is implemented.

[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates a data structure for a Uniform Device Descriptor utilized in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a Uniform Device Descriptor file of the invention presented in a visual display.

[0013] Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a networked environment 20 that may be used to implement the present invention. The networked environment 20 includes a client computer 22. The client computer 22 is a standard computer including a central processing unit 24 and a set of input/output devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, monitor, display, printer, and the like) 26 connected by a system bus 28. A memory 30 is also connected to the system bus 28. The memory 30 stores a web browser 31. A network interface circuit 32 is also connected to the system bus 28. The network interface circuit 32 is connected to a transmission channel 34, which may be any wire, wireless, or optical channel.

[0015] FIG. 1 further illustrates a supervisory computer 40. The supervisory computer 40 is a client computer dedicated to performing supervisory tasks in connection with digital devices in the networked environment 20. The supervisory computer 40 includes standard components: a central processing unit 42, input/output devices 44, a system bus 46, a memory 48, a web browser 50 and a network interface circuit 58. The supervisory computer 40 departs from standard computers in that it stores a set of novel executable programs that support the technique of the invention. In particular, memory 48 stores system administration applications 52. The system administration applications 52 allow a system administrator to supervise the performance of various digital devices within the networked environment 20. The memory 48 also stores device vendor applications 54. The device vendor applications 54 allow a vendor of digital devices to supply updates and enhancements to digital devices within the networked environment 20. The supply vendor applications 56 allow a vendor of supplies for a digital device to assess whether supplies are required by the digital device. For example, the supply vendor application may query a system printer as to whether it has sufficient paper. The system administrator applications 52, device vendor applications 54, and supply vendor applications 56 are more fully appreciated with reference to the following discussion of the remaining elements of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 1 also illustrates a server computer 60. The server 60 includes standard server components: a central processing unit 62, input/output devices 66, a system bus 68, a network interface circuit 70, and a memory 72. The memory 72 stores data and executable programs configured in accordance with the invention. In particular, the memory 72 stores a device list 74. The device list 74 is a list of digital devices within the networked environment that have an associated Uniform Device Descriptor file. Each digital device in the list 74 has an associated network address. For example, the network address may be a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), an addressing technique used on the Internet. As described in detail below, a Uniform Device Descriptor file specifies a set of attributes associated with a digital device. Further, the file may include executable modules or links to executable modules that cause the digital device associated with the file to perform a predetermined operation.

[0017] The memory 72 also stores Universal Device Descriptor (UDD) files 76. The UDD files 76 may include a UDD file for the server 60 and UDD files for other digital devices within the networked environment 20.

[0018] The server 60 also stores executable modules 78. Each executable module within the set of executable modules 78 performs an action in connection with a specified digital device within the networked environment 20. In other words, a particular digital device may have a function associated with it; that function is implemented by an executable module. Examples of executable modules 78 are discussed below.

[0019] The server 60 preferably includes a search module 80. The search module 80 facilitates searches for specified digital devices within the networked environment 20. As discussed below, each digital device with a UDD file may be searched using standard Internet searching techniques. The search module 80 executes searches of this type.

[0020] The routing module 82 operates to deliver a specified UDD file to a selected digital device within the networked environment 20 so that the UDD file may be visually displayed on the selected digital device. For example, the routing module 82 may deliver a UDD file to client computer 22 so that it may be displayed on an output device 26 of the client computer 22.

[0021] FIG. 1 also illustrates an update module 84. The update module 84 operates to alter a selected Uniform Device Descriptor file in response to an update message. For example, the update message may be sent from the device vendor application 54. The update message may be a standard email, the content of which is incorporated into the UDD file by the update module 84.

[0022] FIG. 1 further illustrates a digital appliance 90. The digital appliance 90 refers to any digital device that is not characterized as a client computer or server computer. Thus, the digital appliance 90 may be a printer, a pager, a fax machine, a personal digital assistant, a digital copier, and the like. The digital appliance 90 typically includes a controller 92, input or output devices 94, a system bus 96, and a network interface circuit 100. The digital appliance 90 may also include a UDD file 98. Alternately, the UDD file for the digital appliance may be stored on the server computer 60.

[0023] The networked environment of FIG. 1 will typically include a larger number of client computers 22, supervisory computers 40, server computers 60, and digital appliances 90. The Internet is an exemplary networked environment in which the invention is implemented.

[0024] Much of the information passed over the Internet today is in the form of Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) documents. Extensible Markup Language (XML) documents are currently being introduced on internet. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the UDD files are implemented as XML documents.

[0025] Extensible Markup Language (XML) establishes a system for defining new languages and formats. XML separates structure and content from presentation. Thus, a single XML source document can be written once, then displayed in a variety of digital devices, such as a computer monitor, a cellular-phone display, and so forth. XML will work on any communication device that might be developed. Thus, an XML document can outlive the particular authoring and display technologies available when it was written. Information about XLM is available at http://www.w3.org and http://www.xml.com.

[0026] A Document Type Definition (DTD) is a set of syntax rules for tags. It specifies what tags can be used in a document, what order they should appear in, which tags can appear inside other tags, which tags have attributes, and so on. A DTD can be part of an XML document, but it is usually a separate document or series of documents. Because XML is not a language itself, but rather a system for defining languages, it doesn't have a universal DTD the way HTML does. Instead, each industry or organization that wants to use XML for data exchange can define its own DTDs. If an organization uses XML to tag documents for internal use only, it can create its own private DTD.

[0027] A tool for reading XML documents is popularly called an XML parser, though the more formal name is an XML processor. XML processors pass data to an application for authoring, publishing, searching, or displaying. XML doesn't provide an application programming interface (API) to an application, it just passes data to it.

[0028] The present invention uses XML syntax to support new functionality. The XML syntax of the invention forms the previously described Unified Device Descriptor UDD. The invention is disclosed as an application of XML in which a Unified Device Descriptor (UDD) is used to specify digital devices. Each digital device has a unique UDD dedicated to it, which describes parameters, such as device characteristics, capabilities, features, status, geographic information, maintenance record, job billing information, support/administration information, and the like. Using Document Type Definition (DTD), the invention precisely defines the logical structure of a UDD, so that each manufacture or device administrator will fill the contents for its devices. One of the major benefits of using a DTD in XML that it makes each UDD precisely searchable using standard Internet searching technologies. In contrast, with current HTML based search technologies, a search results in a large amount of returned information that is irrelevant or false. Thus, the invention facilitates the operation of using a web browser to identify digital devices. The Internet based technique of the invention also facilitates cross-platform functionality. Thus, digital devices using different operating systems and connectivity schemes can still communicate.

[0029] The invention can be appreciated by envisioning a digital device's installation, discovery, connection, use, and management in the Internet environment in the way that the data has been published: device installation and configuration=data modeling; device registration=data publishing; device discovery=data searching; device connect=data access; device use=data access interactively; and device status=data query/data pushing/data interchange. Each device's UDD may be stored in the device itself. Alternately, the UDDs can be consolidated into a central server which serves the device. The system administrator can register the UDDs into the default search engine or some major search engine which is XML enabled.

[0030] The UDD acts as a focal point between the digital device and a network administrator. Once a user locates a device's UDD, a variety of actions can be taken to interact with this UDD. The system administrator may interact with the UDD to perform administration tasks via the system administration applications 52. Device manufacturers can interact with the UDD to do troubleshooting and maintenance tasks via the device vendor applications 54.

[0031] Executable modules 78 in the form of Java applets or any other appropriate scripts can be embedded into the UDD to perform various information exchange, status monitoring, and format conversion operations. For example, the Java applets may be implemented to perform individual and specific tasks such as, status monitoring, job spooling, and error handling.

[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates a data structure for a UDD utilized in accordance with the invention. The UDD has a root node 110. Stemming from the root node 110 are generic attributes 112 and device attributes 114. In other words, a digital device characterized by a UDD is characterized by generic attributes 112 that are common to all digital devices. The digital device characterized by the UDD is also characterized by device attributes 114 that are particular to the digital device under consideration.

[0033] Generic attributes 112 include identity attributes 116, system attributes 118, service attributes 120, and geography attributes 122. The device attributes 114 include profile attributes 124. Profile attributes 124 include profiles for various digital devices, including a printer 125A, a pager 125B, a fax machine 125C, a personal digital assistant 125D, a copier 125E, and any other devices, as represented by numeral 125N.

[0034] The device attributes 114 also include connection attributes 126, linking attributes 128, and access attributes 130. The access attributes 130 specify executable modules that may be invoked in connection with the UDD. FIG. 2 illustrates security 132, error handling 134, query 136, action 138, and status 140 executable modules that may be implemented in the UDD of the invention.

[0035] This overview of the UDD structure is now supplemented with a specific implementation. Explanations and annotations of the following XML code of Table I are marked by an introductory character string of “<!- -“ and an ending character string of “- ->”. Each digital device with a UDD file complies with the following Document Type Definition (DTD).

[0036] The foregoing file structure is more fully appreciated with reference to a specific example. Assume that there are two printers in a building at Sun Microsystems, Inc., Palo Alto, Calif., the assignee of the present invention. The two printers are on the second floor of building 4 (SUN04) in Sunnyvale, Calif. One printer is defined as “snowpup10” and the other is defined as “snowpup14”. UDD files “snowpup10.xml” and “snowpup14.xml” are created to comply with the UDD definition set forth above.

[0037] The following assumptions are also made. First, snowpup10.xml has a network address of http://shoki.eng/printer/. The driver code for “snowpup10” is located at http://shoki.eng/printer/snowpup10/bin/driver. Executable modules to perform actions like query, printing, error handling, security checks, and job handling are stored at http://shoki.eng/printer/snowpup10/. The XML UDD file of Table II is non-visual, so it is suitable for device-to-device communication.

[0038] Alternately, the foregoing code can be implemented in a visual form so that a user can interact with the page. FIG. 3 illustrates a browser 142 on a display device 150, such as a computer monitor, flat panel screen, and the like. The browser displays the contents of the UDD file, including identity attributes 116, system attributes 118, geography attributes 122, service attributes 120, profile attributes 124, connection attributes 126, L Link attributes 128, access attributes 130 query executable modules 136, status executable modules 140, security executable modules 132, action executable modules 138, and error handling executable modules 134.

[0039] The code of Table III is an example of a visual page that allows a user to interact with a displayed UDD file.

[0040] Table IV provides another example of code that may used in accordance with the invention. In this example, a personal workstation has two networked printers (snowpup10 and snowpup14), a phone, a digital camera and server shoki. The personal workstation, two networked printers, and the server are connected in a networked environment. The phone and digital camera are not connected to the network. Thus, the phone and digital camera are described as part of the personal workstation. The server and printers have their own xml page and are linked into pc.xml.

[0041] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the disclosed technology allows digital devices to be easily and precisely located through a web browser search. The web browser search can be used to identify digital devices with selected attributes, such as device location, device speed, device functionality, and the like, as specified in the UDD file 76 for each digital device. The search module 80 may rely upon existing Internet searching techniques to match specified attributes in a search request with attributes in a UDD file. For example, the search request may specify generic attributes 112 including system attributes 118 and geography attributes 122. The search may further specify device attributes 114 including profile attributes 124 and connection attributes 126. A UDD file satisfying the specified criteria is then selected using standard searching techniques.

[0042] Once a digital device is located, the user can communicate with the digital device in a variety of modes. In one mode, the user observes the home page dedicated to the device (see, for example, FIG. 3). The device home page describes the device's features, capabilities, location, and other device attributes. In a second mode, peer-to-peer or machine-to-machine communications are established via executable programs that assess the status of a digital device. A status page for the device may be sent. In addition, Java applets may be embedded in the digital device home page. For example, Java applets may be used to send jobs to a digital device or capture output from a digital device. These techniques may be used by a system administrator to remotely maintain digital devices. A digital device manufacturer may use this feature to facilitate upgrades or updates to the digital device or to remotely perform trouble shooting for the digital device.

[0043] Multiple devices can be chained to perform complex tasks. For example, a second printer can be chained into a first printer UDD to be a backup, or to speed up printing of a big job, if they are the exact same kind of printers. This may be achieved through reliance upon the previously described link attribute 128. The link attribute 128 may also be used to chain an input device directly into an output device, if a common communication format is used. Thus, for example, a digital camera can be linked directly into a color printer. In this case, a user clicks the camera and its output is automatically printed at the designated printer.

[0044] Examples of the invention include person-to-person communications. In this mode, suppose Person A and Person B each have a personal computer that is equipped with a digital voice system and Internet connections. Each person is assumed to be using an XML-compliant browser. If they share their UDD pages, a number of actions can be taken. For example, if Person A does not know where Person B is, Person A can execute a web browser-based search to identify Person B's UDD. If Person A clicks on a voice system icon within Person B's UDD, the applet associated with the voice system icon is activated and Person B's voice system rings and indicates that it is Person A calling. If Person B wants to accept the call, he may click on the voice system icon within his UDD. Thereafter, communication is established between Person A and Person B. If Person B is not available, Person A either leaves a message on Person A's voice system or on his email/note system by clicking the corresponding icon on Person B's UDD. Person B can place contact information for his business group or boss on his machine's UDD. If Person B is not available, Person A can bypass Person B and access the UDDs of Person B's business group or boss.

[0045] Person-to-device communications are also feasible in accordance with the invention. Suppose Person A wants to use a printer with duplex capacity. He searches the Internet by typing printer along with the specified capicity. Suppose there are two duplex printers in the Internet, one is monochrome and the other is color. There are also some simplex printers. Thus, the search sends back the UDDs for two printers. Person A wants to print a set of presentation reports in color. Therefore, he chooses the color duplex printer by accessing its UDD page. Now he sees everything in the page. He can click the status icon to query the status, or the page which reports the instant status of the printer. He can verify that there is enough paper inside the printer. He can also click the icon which allows him to send over his job. He may then go to another job while waiting for the printer to finish the print job. The status of the printer UDD will keep displaying the progress or status changes.

[0046] Another example of a person-to-device communication follows. Suppose Person A has a book to print which he does not want to print on his own machine. Thus, he searches for a printer in a nearby copy center. When he gets back the printer's UDD from the copy center, he can select parameters for the print job in the copy center. In this case, Person A may want some book-like binding that can be specified through the copy center's UDD.

[0047] Device-to-person interactions are also feasible in accordance with the invention. For example, the device may be a home security system. The home security system may have a UDD sensor device. The UDD also includes an address for Person A's voice device, page device, PDA, etc. When the sensor device generates a specified output signal, Person A is notified by the different means defined in the UDD.

[0048] The invention also supports device-to-device communications. For example, assume that the Internet includes a printer, a digital camera, and a storage drive. The printer UDD may have an input link from the digital camera's UDD, which has an output link to the storage device. Thus, when the digital camera takes a snapshot, the snapshot is sent to the printer and is stored in the storage drive.

[0049] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. In other instances, well known circuits and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessary distraction from the underlying invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.