Abstract:
A method of storing and outputting a count for an imaging device. The method includes storing the count in a memory storage device. A continuous active signal is detected from an input, the input including continuous active signals and continuous steady-state signals. Also, a count request is receivable from a remote device. The count in the memory storage device is incremented when the continuous active signal from the input is detected. Finally, the count is outputting to the remote device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the art of monitoring paper scanners, copiers or media processors, and more particularly, to a system, method, and apparatus for remotely retrieving a count of pages printed on at least one imaging device.  
           [0003]    2. Discussion of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Photocopier monitoring systems are known in the art. There are monitoring systems for imaging devices that utilize a counter to count the number of pages processed by an imaging device such as a scanner or photocopier, and provide an electrical count signal for each paper printed. The electrical count signal may be a simple electrical pulse, which may be, in its most elemental form, a sustained high-voltage level signal for a predetermined time period. In such systems, the electric count signal is sent from the photocopier to a counter device. Such systems test the electric count signal to ensure it is authentic, and not simply the product of electrical noise. Such systems start an internal clock when a high-voltage level of an electric pulse signal is detected, and, if the electric pulse signal is still high at the end of a preset clock period, the system assumes that the electric count signal is valid. However, such systems use up much of a CPU&#39;s processing capacity, because a portion of the CPU is dedicated to testing the signal at preset intervals during the preset time period. As a result, if the CPU is executing other functions while testing the signal, those functions are processed more slowly.  
           [0005]    Many of the current page counter systems in the art have the capability to send a page count from the counter to a remote facility at periodic intervals. However, such systems only send page counts at predetermined intervals. Therefore, it is desirable to request the count data at different times, and/or on demand.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a system for monitoring an imaging machine that overcomes the shortcomings of the systems described above. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 illustrates an overview of a remotely accessible counter device according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2A illustrates one embodiment of the signal authentication process that occurs when a high voltage is detected by the counter device according to an embodiment of the present;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2B illustrates a second embodiment of the signal authentication process that occurs when a high voltage is detected by the counter device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart showing the processing that occurs from when a remote device requests a count, until the count is transferred to the remote device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]    The present invention is a remotely accessible counter device for counting, for example, pages scanned or printed on an imaging sy ste m such as a copier, computer printer, or scanner. FIG. 1 illustrates an overview of a remotely accessible counter device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, a remote device  110  may remotely access a counter device  105  that counts pages printed or scanned on an imaging device or system  100 .  
         [0012]    The imaging device  100  may be a copier, scanner, or a group of copiers or scanners, for example. When the imaging device  100  prints a copy or scans an image, an electrical signal is sent to a imaging device interface  130  at the counter device  105 . This electrical signal may be communicated over a wire  102 , or other suitable connection. The wire  102  is used to facilitate communication between the imaging device  100  and the counter device  105 . Imaging devices often contain a control section that creates and outputs a signal when a copy is printed or a page is scanned. This signal may be an electrical signal. In imaging devices, a constant (“steadystate”) voltage signal is outputted while the imaging device  100  is turned on. When a copy is printed or a page is scanned, a constant signal of a voltage different than the steady state voltage level is produced for a certain period of time. This non-steady-state signal is known as an “active signal.” 
         [0013]    In many imaging devices  100 , the steady-state voltage has a low-voltage level. When a copy is printed or a page is scanned, a higher voltage level is produced for a certain length of time that is dependent upon the brand and type of imaging device  100 , as well as the size of the media copied or printed. The active signal is sent from the imaging device  100  to the imaging device interface  130  via the wire  102 . A device with a CPU  120  receives the active signal from the imaging device interface  130 . A CPU  150 , or any other processor, contained within the device with a CPU  120  then tests the active signal to ensure that it is authentic, and not simply the product of electrical noise on the wire  102 . A code storage device  125  holds the program code that the CPU  150  executes when authenticating an active signal. The code storage device  125  may be a ROM, EPROM, or any other device capable of storing processor code. A memory storage device  140  is utilized to store a count of the number of copies printed or pages scanned by the imaging device  100 . If the CPU  150  determines that an active signal is authentic, the count stored in the memory storage device  140  is incremented.  
         [0014]    A remote device  110  at a remote location may obtain a count from the counter device  105 . When a count is desired, a user may utilize the remote device  110  to send a count request signal to a bi-directional communication device  115 , such as a pager, in the counter device  105 . The CPU  150  receives the request from the bi-directional communication device pager  115 . The CPU  150  then accesses the electrical counter  140  and reads the count. The program code used by the CPU  150  to access the memory storage device  140  is preferably stored within the code storage device  125 .  
         [0015]    The remote device  110  has its own remote memory storage device  135  in which a count total received from the counter device  105  is stored. Every time the remote device  110  receives a count from the counter device  105 , a processing device  145  at the remote device  110  takes the count and subtracts the number stored in the remote memory storage device  135 . The resultant number is then made accessible to a user. The count from the counter device  105  is then stored in the remote memory storage device  135 . This way, a user can access a count of pages copied or scanned by the imaging device  100 , and know how many pages have been copied or scanned since the last time the count was checked. The remote memory storage device  135  may be located within the remote device  110 , for example.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2A illustrates one embodiment of the signal authentication process that occurs when an active signal is detected by the counter device  105  according to an embodiment of the present invention. When an active signal is detected  200  by the CPU  150 , the CPU  150  starts executing  205  an authentication program or subroutine. Next, an authentication counter is loaded  210  with a preset value of t−1. From start to finish, the active signal is tested t times (t−1 is loaded in the authentication counter because once the authentication counter is set, one non-steady-state voltage level has to have already been detected) to determine whether the active signal is authentic, since all authentic active signals have a non-steady-state voltage level for at least a minimum amount of time, the time varying depending upon the type and brand of the imaging device  100 , as well as the size and type of document that is operated on by the imaging device  100 . The greater the speed and processing capacity of the CPU  150 , the more times each active signal may need to be tested.  
         [0017]    The program then executes a loop during which the active signal is checked for t−1 times. If the active signal is determined to have a non-steady-state voltage level for each of these times, then the active signal is considered authentic. This test program is not clock-dependant. In other words, the t−1 tests do not necessarily have to always occur within the same time period for the testing of each pulse. The number of tests is determined based upon a known minimum length of a pulse signal as well as the CPU  150  speed and processing capacity.  
         [0018]    If a high voltage level is detected  215 , the authentication counter is decremented  220 . Next, if the authentication counter is greater  225  than zero, the program once again checks  215  for a high voltage. This iteration continues until the authentication counter reaches zero. At this point, in one embodiment, the program determines that the active signal is authentic, and the CPU  150  increments  230  the count stored in the memory storage device  140 . In this embodiment, the program then waits for the next low voltage level before testing for the next pulse. The program continually tests  235  for a steady-state voltage signal. When a steady-state signal is detected, the system then waits until the next non-steady-state signal is detected  200 .  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2B illustrates a second embodiment of the signal authentication process that occurs when a high voltage is detected by the counter device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, after an active signal has been verified  225  as being non-steady-state for the predetermined number of times, the system waits until a continuous steady-state voltage is received for a period of time, thereby ensuring that the detected active signal really is authentic, and not merely the product of electrical noise. In such an embodiment, after the CPU  150  has verified  225  that a signal was active for the set number of times, the CPU  150  waits until a steady-state voltage signal is detected  240 , and begins executing  245  a second authentication program, or a second authentication subroutine in the aforementioned authentication program. A second preset authentication counter is loaded  250  with a preset value of r−1. From start to finish, a steady-state signal is tested r times (r−1 is loaded in the authentication counter because once the authentication counter is set, one steady-state voltage level has to have already been detected) to determine whether the steady-state signal is authentic. If a steady-state voltage level is detected  255 , the second authentication counter is decremented  260 . Next, if the second authentication counter is greater  265  than zero, the program once again checks  255  for a steady-state voltage level. This iteration continues until the second authentication counter reaches zero. At this point, the program determines that an authentic active signal was followed by an authentic steady-state signal, the CPU  150  increments  270  the count stored in the memory storage device  140 . The system then waits to detect  200  the next non-steady-state signal.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart showing the processing that occurs from when the remote device  110  requests a count, until the count is transferred to the remote device  110  according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, a user at the remote device  110  may request  300  a count total. Second, the remote device  110  sends  305  a count request signal to the bi-directional communication device  115  of the counter device  105 . The CPU  150  then receives  310  the count request from the bi-directional communication device  115 . Next, the CPU  150  retrieves  315  the count stored in the memory storage device  140 . The CPU  150  sends  320  the count total to the bi-directional communication device  115 . The bi-directional communication device  115  sends  325  a signal containing the count to a processing device  145  at the remote device  110 . The processing device  145  retrieves  330  the previous count total from the remote memory storage device  135 . The processing device  145  then subtracts the previous count total from the count and makes  335  the result accessible to the user. Finally, the count is stored  340  in the remote memory storage device  135 .  
         [0021]    While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.