Claims
- 1. A web access mechanism of a copier, comprising:a web server that generates a copier web page, wherein the copier web page provides a set of user interface functions for the copier, wherein some of the user interface functions enable control functions of the copier; a network interface coupled to the web server, the network interface enabling access to the copier web page by a web browser, the network interface being configured to permit a user of the web browser to access the user interface functions for the copier through the copier web page; and wherein the web access mechanism is embedded in the copier.
- 2. The web access mechanism of claim 1, wherein the web server is configured to receive an HTTP command via the network interface and then generate an HTML file that defines the copier web page in response to the HTTP command.
- 3. The web access mechanism of claim 2, wherein the HTTP command specifies a URL corresponding to the copier.
- 4. The web access mechanism of claim 3 further comprising a monitor coupled to the web server.
- 5. The web access mechanism of claim 2, wherein the HTML file contains at least one of (1) a set of information pertaining to the copier, (2) a set of URLs that control a set of predetermined functions for the copier wherein each URL may point to a web page located internal to the copier, and (3) a hyperlink to an external web page that specifies additional information pertaining to the copier.
- 6. A user interface method for a copier comprising the steps of:generating a copier web page within the copier, wherein the copier web page provides a set of user interface functions for the copier, wherein some of the user interface functions enable control functions of the copier; and providing access to the copier web page from a web browser external to the copier to permit a user of the web browser to access the user interface functions for the copier through the device web page.
- 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of generating a copier web page includes the step of generating an HTML file that defines the copier web page in response to an HTTP command received from the web browser.
- 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the HTTP command specifies a URL corresponding to the copier.
- 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the HTML file contains at least one of (1) a set of information pertaining to the copier, (2) a set of URLs that control a set of predetermined functions for the copier wherein each URL may point to a web page located internal to the copier, and (3) a hyperlink to an external web page that specifies additional information pertaining to the copier.
- 10. A system, comprising:a copier having a web server that generates a copier web page wherein the copier web page provides a set of user interface functions for the copier and includes a set of information pertaining to the copier, the user interface functions enabling control functions of the copier, the copier also having a network interface that enables access to the copier web page via a communication network, wherein the web server and the network interface are embedded in the copier; and a web browser coupled to the communication network to enable a user of the web browser to access the user interface functions for the copier through the copier web page.
- 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the web server in the copier receives an HTTP command via the communication network and the network interface and then generates an HTML file that defines the copier web page in response to the HTTP command.
- 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the HTTP command specifies a URL corresponding to the copier.
- 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the HTML file contains at least one of (1) a set of URLs that control a set of predetermined functions for the copier such that the user of the web browser selects the URLs to control the predetermined functions of the copier wherein each URL may point to a web page located internal to the copier or a web page located external to the copier, and (2) a hyperlink to an external web page located elsewhere on the communication network that specifies additional information pertaining to the copier.
- 14. The system of claim 10, wherein the communication network comprises a home-based communication network, a large-organization communication network, or the world wide web of the Internet.
- 15. The system of claim 12 further comprising a monitor coupled to the web server.
- 16. A web access mechanism of a printer, comprising:a web server that generates a printer web page, wherein the printer web page provides a set of user interface functions for the printer, wherein some of the user interface functions enable control functions of the printer; a network interface coupled to the web server, the network interface enabling access to the printer web page by a web browser, the network interface being configured to permit a user of the web browser to access the user interface functions for the printer through the printer web page; and wherein the web access mechanism is embedded in the printer.
- 17. The web access mechanism of claim 16, wherein the web server is configured to receive an HTTP command via the network interface and then generate an HTML file that defines the printer web page in response to the HTTP command.
- 18. The web access mechanism of claim 17, wherein the HTTP command specifies a URL corresponding to the printer.
- 19. The web access mechanism of claim 18, wherein the HTML file contains at least one of (1) a set of information pertaining to the printer, (2) a set of URLs that control a set of predetermined functions for the printer wherein each URL may point to a web page located internal to the printer, and (3) a hyperlink to an external web page that specifies additional information pertaining to the printer.
- 20. The web access mechanism of claim 18, further comprising a monitor coupled to the web server.
- 21. A user interface method for a printer comprising the steps of:generating a printer web page within the printer, wherein the printer web page provides a set of user interface functions for the printer, wherein some of the user interface functions enable control functions of the printer; and providing access to the printer web page from a web browser external to the printer to permit a user of the web browser to access the user interface functions for the printer through the device web page.
- 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of generating a printer web page includes the step of generating an HTML file that defines the printer web page in response to an HTTP command received from the web browser.
- 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the HTTP command specifies a URL corresponding to the printer.
- 24. The method of claim 22, wherein the HTML file contains at least one of (1) a set of information pertaining to the printer, (2) a set of URLs that control a set of predetermined functions for the printer wherein each URL may point to a web page located internal to the printer or a web page located external to the printer, and (3) a hyperlink to an external web page that specifies additional information pertaining to the printer.
- 25. A system, comprising:a printer having a web server that generates a printer web page wherein the printer web page provides a set of user interface functions for the printer and includes a set of information pertaining to the printer, the user interface functions enabling control functions of the printer, the printer also having a network interface that enables access to the printer web page via a communication network, wherein the web server and the network interface are embedded in the printer; and a web browser coupled to the communication network to enable a user of the web browser to access the user interface functions for the printer through the printer web page.
- 26. The system of claim 25, wherein the web server in the printer receives an HTTP command via the communication network and the network interface and then generates an HTML file that defines the printer web page in response to the HTTP command.
- 27. The system of claim 26, wherein the HTTP command specifies a URL corresponding to the printer.
- 28. The system of claim 26, wherein the HTML file contains at least one of (1) a set of information pertaining to the printer, (2) a set of URLs that control a set of predetermined functions for the printer wherein each URL may point to a web page located internal to the printer or a web page located external to the printer, and (3) a hyperlink to an external web page that specifies additional information pertaining to the printer.
- 29. The system of claim 25, wherein the communication network comprises a home-based communication network, a large-organization communication network, or the world wide web of the Internet.
- 30. The system of claim 27, further comprising a monitor coupled to the web server.
- 31. A method of providing a web page to a user of office equipment, comprising:embedding a web server within the office equipment, wherein the office equipment is a copier, a printer, or a fax machine; connecting the web server to a computer network; and communicating to the web server with a web browser.
- 32. A method of obtaining information from a specific piece of office equipment, comprising:assigning a Universal Resource Locator to the piece of office equipment wherein the office equipment is a copier, a printer, or a fax machine; embedding a web server within the piece of office equipment; sending an HTTP command, including a Universal Resource Locator, from a web client to the embedded web server; and providing the information from the web server to the web client where the Universal Resource Locator sent to the office equipment matches the assigned Universal Resource Locator.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/740,289 filed on Oct. 25, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,487.
US Referenced Citations (37)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
WO9718636 |
May 1997 |
WO |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin—vol. 38, No. 12, Dec. 1995, Disk Drive With Embedded Hyper-Text Markup Language Server. |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08/740289 |
Oct 1996 |
US |
Child |
09/387278 |
|
US |