This application relates generally to automated administration or monitoring of document processing devices. The application relates more particularly to assignment of one or more document processing devices to monitor and report device activity for a device group.
Document processing devices include printers, copiers, scanners and e-mail gateways. More recently, devices employing two or more of these functions are found in office environments. These devices are referred to as multifunction peripherals (MFPs) or multifunction devices (MFDs). As used herein, MFPs are understood to comprise printers, alone or in combination with other of the afore-noted functions. It is further understood that any suitable document processing device can be used.
Earlier installations would involve businesses buying one or more MFPs. Given the expense in obtaining and maintain MFPs, devices are frequently shared or monitored by users or technicians via a data network. MFPs, while moveable, are generally maintained in a fixed location. MFP devices are complex and in need of regular restocking or servicing. Earlier on, these functions were accomplished by on-site technicians by larger companies, or with service calls to service companies for smaller installations.
More recently, companies lease office machines, such as MFPs, from third party providers. In certain scenarios, total cost of a device may be calculated by a negotiated, per-page charge. Monitoring of device usage may be made by looking at device counters, job logs or consumable levels on a device itself. More recently, administration and monitoring of MFPs is done by a networked computer designated as a monitor or data collector. Collection of device usage information or consumable usage information such as paper usage, toner or ink usage, is assigned to a dedicated administrative computer. Information collected by the administrative computer can be used to reorder supplies, schedule device maintenance and calculate usage charges to be assessed to a person or company.
In accordance with an example embodiment of the subject application, a system and method for a network device group collector management includes a memory storing device management data for each of the document processing devices. A processor receives updated device management data corresponding to a device change in an identified device group and designates a document processing device in the identified group as a group primary collector in accordance with received updated device management data. The processor communicates device management data comprising primary collector designator data to a selected document processing device in the identified group via the network interface.
Various embodiments will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein:
The systems and methods disclosed herein are described in detail by way of examples and with reference to the figures. It will be appreciated that modifications to disclosed and described examples, arrangements, configurations, components, elements, apparatuses, devices methods, systems, etc. can suitably be made and may be desired for a specific application. In this disclosure, any identification of specific techniques, arrangements, etc. are either related to a specific example presented or are merely a general description of such a technique, arrangement, etc. Identifications of specific details or examples are not intended to be, and should not be, construed as mandatory or limiting unless specifically designated as such.
In accordance with the subject application,
As discussed above, earlier systems have used a dedicated server to monitor activity on a plurality of MFP devices. While effective, use of such a dedicated server has several disadvantages. A first disadvantage is that such a system requires the purchase and maintenance of dedicated server hardware and software. A second disadvantage is that a dedicated server provides a single point of failure. If a server were to fail, lose power or lose network connectivity, then device monitoring would be ended or suspended. In business models in which cost is based on page count, there could be lost revenue or lost time value of money for the time when the server is out of commission. Implementation of a backup server might alleviate some of the problems but could double the cost of server hardware, software and maintenance. Of course, there is also a chance that a backup server could also fail, lose power or lose network connectivity.
In accordance with an example embodiment of the subject application, an intelligent device controller, such as may be found on more modern MFPs, is provided with added functionality so that it may also take on a role of what would have been a dedicated device server. Current device controllers comprise computer functionality and may typically have sufficient hardware, software and network resources available to them to take on this added role. Given that MFP hardware and software is already being used for document processing tasks, it may be advantageous to limit monitoring duties to a relatively small group of devices, such as a group of devices located on the same floor or same building, while the monitoring device reports to a server tasked with receiving reporting from multiple devices in multiple device groups. In addition to the forgoing, MFP devices may be relatively frequently removed, replaces or moved to another work group. This can be problematic when a device is serving the added role of a device collector.
In the example embodiment of
In an example embodiment employing SNMP, MFP devices expose management data in their internal management information base (MIB) which is accessible by device server 104, or SNMP server as illustrated, which can read from and write to their MIBS. Thus, device server 104 can designate a device as a primary server or a secondary server, move servers between groups, decommission devices or introduce a new collection device. Device server 104 may also balance loads between two or more MFPs serving a collector role. Device server 104 suitably detects user activity on MFP devices as a trigger point to check device activity levels, assign or reassign server functions or institute a load balancing when desirable.
Turning now to
Processor 202 is also in data communication with a storage interface 208 for reading or writing to a storage 216, suitably comprised of a hard disk, optical disk, solid-state disk, cloud-based storage, or any other suitable data storage as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
Processor 202 is also in data communication with a network interface 210 which provides an interface to a network interface controller (NIC) 214, which in turn provides a data path to any suitable wired or physical network connection 220, or to a wireless data connection via wireless network interface 218. Example wireless connections include cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, wireless universal serial bus (wireless USB), satellite, and the like. Example wired interfaces include Ethernet, USB, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), Apple Lightning, telephone line, or the like.
Processor 202 can also be in data communication with any suitable user input/output (I/O) interface which provides data communication with user peripherals, such as displays, keyboards, mice, track balls, touch screens, or the like. Hardware monitor 221 suitably provides device event data, working in concert with suitably monitoring systems. By way of further example, monitoring systems may include page counters, sensor output, such as consumable level sensors, temperature sensors, power quality sensors, device error sensors, door open sensors, and the like. Data is suitably stored in one or more device logs, such as in storage 216.
Also in data communication with data bus 212 is a document processor interface 222 suitable for data communication with MFP functional units 250. In the illustrated example, these units include copy hardware 240, scan hardware 242, print hardware 244 and fax hardware 246 which together comprise MFP functional hardware 250. It will be understood that functional units are suitably comprised of intelligent units, including any suitable hardware or software platform.
Turning now to
Processor 304 is also in data communication with a storage interface 306 for reading or writing to a data storage system 308, suitably comprised of a hard disk, optical disk, solid-state disk, or any other suitable data storage as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
Processor 304 is also in data communication with a network interface controller (NIC) 330, which provides a data path to a physical, such as a wired or optical network connection via physical network interface 334, or to any suitable wireless data network connection via wireless network interface 338, such as one or more of the networks detailed above. Processor 304 is also in data communication with a user input/output (I/O) interface 340 which provides data communication with user peripherals, such as touchscreen display 344, keyboards, trackballs, video displays, mice or the like. It will be understood that functional units are suitably comprised of intelligent units, including any suitable hardware or software platform.
Referring next to
Modified group 420′ now includes MFPs 408′ and 424 with collector capability. The device server suitably designates MFP 408′ as primary collector and shifts the responsibility of MFP 424 from primary collector to secondary collector. As noted above with group 404′, in other example embodiments the device server may determine it beneficial to retain primary collector responsibility with MFP 424 and assign newly acquired MFP 408′ with secondary collector responsibility, such as based on device capability or workload. As with group 404′, the device server also suitably instructs a load sharing or balancing responsibilities between MFPs 408′ and 424.
Turning next to
Referring now to
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the spirit and scope of the inventions.