How can I install a scanner by IP?

I'm trying to install a scanner by IP the same way you would install a printer by IP. I don't want to install the horrible HP Solution Center software but I don't know how to install a network scanner without the software.

I'm having a hard time googling this because when I search for things like "install network scanner" or "install scanner by IP" all the results are for things like Angry IP Scanner which is clearly different than what I'm trying to get.

Thanks in advance.

This is for Windows Vista, but Windows 7 instructions will do.

Printers work because there are standard ways of talking to a printer by IP, but there isn't a (common, Windows supported) standard for talking to a scanner by IP. You either need software which will do it installed on every computer, or you need a device which supports scanning to email, or scanning to a fileshare.

Does your device have something like this? http://h71028.www7.hp.com/hho/us/en/ep/articles/scan-to-email-network-folders.html#4

Install just the scanner drivers (if the producer provides them outside the full solution) and then use irfan. Works like a charm.

iview427_setup.exe
irfanview_plugins_427_setup.exe

File menu->Select TWAIN source->your scanner (if the scan drivers were correctly installed it should show here)

Then File menu->Acquire/Batch scanning