Patent ID: 9158481
Filing Date: 2015-10-13
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A system for monitoring printer status in a networked environment, comprising: for each of a plurality of printers, a respective server port device connected to a communication port of a corresponding printer, each server port device adapted to receive real-time printer status information from the corresponding printer; and a status monitor for receiving the printer status information from one or more of the server port devices, the printer status information being automatically wirelessly broadcast from the respective server port devices to an IP address of the status monitor; wherein: the server port device comprises a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) status processor for converting the printer status information received from the printer in a first format into a second format for the broadcast using a UDP protocol, which enables real-time printer status communications without the need to open and close printer communication ports; the status monitor enables configuration of a timing of the broadcast; and the timing of the broadcast can be configured to be on a periodic basis or each time the printer status changes.