APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF UPDATING A SOFTWARE ROUTINE

A printer attached to a computer using a driver routine includes an appropriate interface configured to receive, from the computer, an intermediate, device non-specific code such as a Page Description Language (PDL) message generated by an active printer driver routine and provide a corresponding bitmap. The computer may be a standalone workstation connected to the printer or a server providing printer services to a network of users. The printer also has a print engine configured to print an image corresponding to the bitmap. A communications interface is connected to receive a latest version of the printer driver routine which is then stored in a local memory that is part of the printer. The printer further includes a local processor for selectively supplying the computer with the latest version of the printer driver routine from the local memory. The local printer processor may be responsive to a version designation of the active printer driver routine (i.e., the routine installed in the client computer or local server) for selectively supplying the latest version of the print driver routine. The printer may be connected to the computer over a dedicated printer channel, such as a parallel or serial printer port. The communications interface for receiving updated driver routines may include connectivity to a wide area network, such as the Internet, to provide access to a centralized database of printer servers including the latest versions of the drivers.