System and method for the hybrid harvesting of information from peripheral devices

Abstract

In one embodiment there is disclosed a system and method for harvesting data from at least one device, such that there is stored on a particular device, prior to the start of each harvesting session, an application program, which enables the harvesting of certain data from the device. At the conclusion of a harvesting session, the application program is removed from the device. In one embodiment the application is in the form of a chailet

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to the harvesting of data from remote devices and more particularly to a system and method for the harvesting of such data using hybrid techniques.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

[0003] It has become common practice to electronically retrieve, or harvest, parametric information such as, for example, consumables status, device state, and error conditions from peripheral devices. These peripherals can be, for example, printers, multifunction devices, and copiers. Currently, this harvesting is accomplished using Ethernet protocols, such as System Network Management Protocol (SNMP). In many situations, the target peripheral devices (the devices from which the information is to be harvested) do not support the SNMP protocol or only partially support that protocol.

[0004] One solution to this problem would be to add an interpretive code to the peripheral device. Such code is called a chailet and would reside in a memory device on the peripheral. This solution, however, has a major limitation in that the peripheral device would have to have some form of permanent memory so that the chailet could survive power cycles (for example, the off-condition) of the peripheral device. Such permanent memory is expensive, rendering this solution uneconomical.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In one embodiment there is disclosed a system and method for harvesting data from a plurality of devices, such that there is stored on a particular device, prior to the start of each harvesting session, an application program that enables the harvesting of certain data from the device. At the conclusion of each harvesting session, the application program is removed from the device. In one embodiment, the application is in the form of a chailet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a system using the inventive concepts;

[0007] FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a peripheral device;

[0008] FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of a peripheral device having a chailet stored therein; and

[0009] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a system utilizing the concepts of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Turning now to FIG. 1, there is shown system 10 in which processor 11 is shown in conjunction with database 13 adapted for harvesting data from a plurality of peripheral devices P1-PN via network 12. The harvested information from peripherals P1-PN is stored, in one embodiment, temporarily in database 13 and is then communicated under control of processor 11 to processing center 14 at a location remote from the peripheral devices.

[0011] Note that using the system and methods of this invention, processor 11 may gather data from one peripheral P1 or from a group of peripherals, with the gathered data being stored in database 13 for a period of time. The system could be established such that data can be harvested from several groups (or nodes) of peripherals with the data being stored in database 13. Subsequently, at some time when it is convenient, the data may be transmitted from database 13 via network 12 to processing location 14. Processing location 14 can be, for example, a system that keeps track of the consumables, such as ink and paper, used in a printer (or other peripheral device) so that a central location can re-supply the consumables to each device as necessary. This allows for the proper operation and maintenance of peripheral devices P1-PN from a remote location.

[0012] Turning now to FIG. 2, there shown peripheral P1 having processor 22 and memory 21 contained therein. Processor 22 may be optional, and memory 21 may be volatile, nonvolatile, or combination thereof and could be of any size. Various programs for operating device P1 are typically contained in memory 21, some of the programs are capable of being accessed from an external source. Typically, the interaction between the harvesting system and the specific peripheral device would be under control of System Network Management Protocol (SNMP), which is an internet protocol that is utilized for the gathering of data from various peripheral devices connected to a specific network.

[0013] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of peripheral P1 with processor 22 and memory 21 with the addition of chailet 31. In one embodiment, chailet 31 has been downloaded from processor 11 through network 12 (FIG. 1) into peripheral P1. Preferably, chailet 31 has relatively few lines of code and is loaded at the beginning of the harvesting cycle for a particular peripheral device (or group of devices). Chailet 31 is removed from peripheral device P1 (or group of devices) at the end of the harvesting session. During the harvesting session chailet 31 acts as the intermediate code between a network SNMP application and a locally supported JAVA program on peripheral device P1.

[0014] Turning now to FIG. 4, there is shown one embodiment of a system and method 40 utilizing the inventive concepts. At the start, an inquiry is made via process 401 as to whether the required information is obtainable from SNMP. If obtainable, then the SNMP is used to harvest the information via process 402 and that information is sent for storage in database 13 via process 403.

[0015] If the required information is not obtainable from SNMP, as determined by process 401, then process 404 determines if the peripheral supports Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and installable JAVA programs. If the answer is no, then data cannot be harvested from this peripheral device, and the system goes on to check for other peripheral devices, via process 409.

[0016] However, if the peripheral device does support the JVM, as determined by process 404, then process 405 determines if a chailet has been loaded this harvesting session. If a chailet has not been loaded as determined by process 405, then a chailet is loaded via process 406 under control of processor 11 (FIG. 1). If the chailet was previously loaded, or once the chailet is loaded on a device, it is then operable to assist in harvesting data from the specific device via process 407. The harvested data is sent to database 13 via process 408. When all data has been harvested from the specific peripheral device, a determination is again made via process 409 as to whether this is the last peripheral. If it is not the last peripheral, then the next peripheral is selected via process 410 and the iterations repeat.

[0017] If this was the last peripheral, then the chailet that had been stored at the beginning of the session is removed via process 411. After removing the chailet via Process 411, the data that has been harvested can remain in database 13 for a period of time for later delivery or could be delivered, under control of process 412, to a remote location, such as to processing 14 via network 12, as shown in FIG. 1.

Claims

1. A method for harvesting data from at least one device, said method comprising: storing on a particular device an application program, said storing occurring prior to the start of a harvesting session; enabling said stored application to harvest certain data from said device; communicating harvested data to an application common to said device; and removing said stored application from said device at the conclusion of said communicating step.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: prior to said storing step, determining if said data is obtainable from SNMP.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: inhibiting said storing and enabling steps if it is determined that said data is obtainable from SNMP.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising: if it is determined that said data is not obtainable from SNMP, then determining if a said particular device supports JVM.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said common application is the SNMP application.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said device is a printer.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising: repeating said storing, enabling, communicating and removing steps for at least one device; and storing communicated harvested data in a database in relationship to said device from which said data was harvested.

8. The method of claim 7 further including: transmitting said stored data to a processing center.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said transmitting step occurs only when data has been harvested from a particular group of said devices.

10. A system for harvesting data from at least one device, said system comprising: means for storing within a particular device a chailet sent from a source external to said device, means, including said stored chailet, for harvesting certain data from said device; means for communicating said harvested data to a database remote from said device; and means for removing said stored chailet from said stored device at the conclusion of said harvesting of said certain data from said at least one device.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said storing means includes at least a portion of a memory device resident within said device, said memory device primarily used by said device for tasks other than storing said application program.

12. The system of claim 10 further comprising: means, operable if said data from said particular device is obtainable from SNMP, for inhibiting said storing and said enabling means.

13. The system of claim 10 further comprising: means for determining if said particular device supports JVM, and if said data is not obtainable from SNMP, for enabling said storing means with respect to said particular device.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein said device is a printer.

15. The system of claim 10 further comprising: means for storing communicated ones of said certain data from at least one device in a database in relationship to said device from which said data was harvested.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising: means for transmitting said stored data to a processing center.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said transmitting means is only enabled when data has been harvested from a particular group of said devices.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein said storing means includes volatile memory resident within said device.

19. A method of periodically harvesting data from at least one peripheral device, said devices containing limited volatile memory, said method comprising: storing within said volatile memory a relatively small amount of code; harvesting data from said device, said harvesting facilitated by said stored code; communicating said harvested data from said device to a storage location central to at least one device; and removing said stored code from said volatile memory on a periodic basis.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said code is stored at the beginning of each harvesting session with respect to a particular device and removed at the end of said harvesting session.