Patent Application
20060274351
This invention is directed to a system and method for document processing. More particularly, this invention is directed to a system and method for tracking errors during document processing operations.
Document processing devices, including multifunction peripheral devices, are typically employed over a network and used by a variety of applications. When an application, such as a web browser or word processing program, forwards an electronic file to the document processing devices, errors sometimes occur. Examples of such errors include the toner level in the multifunction peripheral being empty, a paper jam has occurred, and the like. Current embodiments of document processing devices do not report the number of pages output prior to the error occurring. Thus, there are no means for an application to determine at which point in the document processing an error occurred. Furthermore, there are no means for the application to determine where to restart the document processing operation, absent user or administrator involvement.
There exists a need for a system and method for tracking document processing errors.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a system and method for document processing.
Further, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a system and method for tracking errors during document processing operations.
Still further, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a system and method for tracking and reporting errors that occur during document processing operations.
Still further, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a document processor error tracking system. The system includes a job monitor associated with the document processor. The job monitor includes receiving means adapted to receive job data corresponding to the status of a job processing operation being performed by the document processor. The job monitor further includes receiving means adapted to receive a job interrupt signal representing the interruption of a document processing operation. The system also includes an alert generator. The alert generator generates an alert message, including the job status data, in response to the job interrupt signal. The system also includes communication means adapted to selectively communicate the alert message to at least one selected destination.
Still further, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for tracking document processor error. The method begins by receiving job status data representing the status of a document processing operation being processed on the document processor. Next, a job interrupt signal is received. The job interrupt signal represents an interruption in the document processing operation prior to the job's completion. An alert message is then generated in response to the received job interrupt signal. The alert message includes the status data corresponding to the job being processed. The alert message is then selectively communicated to at least one selected destination.
Still other advantages, aspects and features of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description wherein there is shown and described a preferred embodiment of this invention, simply by way of illustration of one of the best modes best suited for to carry out the invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects all without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawing and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
The present invention is directed to a system and method for document processing. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a system and method for tracking errors on a document processor during document processing operations.
Turning now to
The skilled artisan will appreciate that the job monitor 104 is illustrated in
In the preferred embodiment, each of the user devices 110-114 suitably includes an application residing thereon, to enable communication with the document processing device 102. More preferably, each of the applications of the user devices 110-114 advantageously register with the job monitor 104 via any means known in the art. The skilled artisan will appreciate that such registration enables the job monitor 104 to selectively communicate with the user devices 110-114. In operation, the job monitor 104 suitably tracks the progress of each document processing job submitted to the document processing device 102 for processing. The job monitor 104 begins by querying the document processing device 102 for those jobs pending. For example, the job monitor 104 receives the job identification or names for each job submitted, the type of processing to be performed, the progress of any processing, and the like. The document processing device 102 suitably transmits such information to the job monitor 104 via the communications link 106. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that in the case of an internally configured job monitor 104, i.e., a job monitor 104 represented as software residing on the document processing device 102, or an integrated hardware component connected thereto, such a communications link 106 is capable of being any data transmission bus known in the art.
Upon receipt of the job identifications corresponding to the jobs being processed by the document processing device 102, the job monitor 104 monitors the status of each of the jobs being so processed at predetermined intervals. When a job interrupt occurs, the document processing device 102 suitably generates an interrupt signal indicating the occurrence of the job interrupt. The job monitor 104 gathers the details associated with the interrupt and generates a log file indicating the name of the job, the nature of the interrupt, time and date data, page data, and the like. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that a job interrupt is capable of being any document processing error known in the art, including and without limitation, a mechanical error, a software error, an electrical error, and the like. The skilled artisan will appreciate that paper jams, out of paper problems, toner level problems, disconnect during facsimile operations, automatic document feeder jam, incompatible processing requirements, and the like all represent interrupts in accordance with the present invention.
In addition to recording the job interrupt in a log file, the job monitor 104 generates a job interrupt notification message. In accordance with the present invention, the job interrupt notification message suitably includes, but is not limited to, the name of the job interrupted, the nature of the interrupt, the time and date, the number of pages printed, the number of copies made, the number of pages scanned, the number of pages transmitted via fax or email, and the like. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the data contained in the job interrupt notification message suitably matches the job interrupt data stored in the log file. Preferably, the notification message is advantageously an extensible markup language (“XML”) formatted message. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other formats are equally capable of being used without departing from the scope of the present invention. Once the message has been generated by the job monitor 104, the message is transmitted via the computer network 108 to those applications registered to receive the notification. For example, the applications that are the designated recipients of the notification suitably include, but are not limited to, a system administrator application, the application that originated the job, applications that have pending jobs remaining to be processed by the document processing device 102, all registered applications, and the like.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the applications which receive the job interrupt notification message are suitably capable of generating an alert message indicative of the job interrupt to a designated user or system administrator. Preferably, the alert message is displayed to the designated user or administrator via any means known in the art, including, without limitation, an electronic mail message, an SNMP message, a text alert message, and the like. An example of an alert message is discussed below with respect to
Turning now to
When it is determined that a job interrupt signal has been received, i.e., a job interrupt has occurred, flow proceeds to step 210, wherein a notification message is generated indicting the interruption of the job prior to completion of the document processing operation. As previously mentioned, the notification message preferably includes data representing the name of the document job being processed, the nature of the interrupt, the number of pages printed, the number of pages remaining to be printed, the number of copies made, and the like. More preferably, the notification message is suitably generated in XML format, enabling cross-platform communications between applications and the job monitor 104, although the skilled artisan will appreciate that other file formats are equally capable of being implemented without departing from the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in art will appreciate that the job monitor 104 is capable of including other pertinent information regarding the interruption of the job in addition to those mentioned above. The notification message is then transmitted at step 212 to the designated recipient application via any means known in the art. Preferably, the notification message is broadcast over the computer network 108 to the designated recipient. In the preferred embodiment, the designated recipient application is one of the group of applications that have registered to receive job interrupt notifications. Such registration is accomplished via any means known in the art. For example, the designated recipient of the notification message suitably includes an administrator application, the application that originated the job being interrupted, the application or applications with jobs pending following the interrupted job, and other applications that have registered with the job monitor 104.
The job monitor 104 then advantageously records the job interrupt in a log. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the log is any data file known in the art capable of containing information. Preferably, the log file is stored in associated memory of the job monitor 104, or alternatively, associated memory of the document processing device 102. Flow then proceeds to step 216, wherein a determination is made whether additional jobs are still being processed by the document processing device 102. When no additional jobs are being processed, operation terminates. When additional jobs remain to be processed, flow proceeds back to step 202, wherein the job monitor 104 returns to monitoring and tracking the operations of the document processing device 102. The process by which an application functions in accordance with the present invention will best be understood in conjunction with the flow chart described in
Referring now to
When a job interrupt notification message is received at step 306, flow proceeds to step 310, wherein the application generates an alert message. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the alert message suitably informs a user or administrator of the occurrence of a job interrupt. Preferably, the alert message is suitably embodied as an electronic mail message, a popup window message dialog, a text message, and the like. Once generated by the application, the alert message is transmitted to the designated recipient user or administrator at step 312. Preferably, the alert message includes data representing the name of the job interrupted, the nature of the interrupt, the pages processed and the pages remaining to be processed, and the like.
In accordance with the present invention,
In one embodiment, when the application that originated the document processing job, or alternatively an administrator application, desires to retry the document processing operation, suitable graphical icons are included in the alert message 400. As shown in
The invention extends to computer programs in the form of source code, object code, code intermediate sources and object code (such as in a partially compiled form), or in any other form suitable for use in the implementation of the invention. Computer programs are suitably standalone applications, software components, scripts or plug-ins to other applications. Computer programs embedding the invention are advantageously embodied on a carrier, being any entity or device capable of carrying the computer program: for example, a storage medium such as ROM or RAM, optical recording media such as CD-ROM or magnetic recording media such as floppy discs. The carrier is any transmissible carrier such as an electrical or optical signal conveyed by electrical or optical cable, or by radio or other means. Computer programs are suitably downloaded across the Internet from a server. Computer programs are also capable of being embedded in an integrated circuit. Any and all such embodiments containing code that will cause a computer to perform substantially the invention principles as described, will fall within the scope of the invention.
The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to use the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.
