Abstract:
A handheld portable maintenance terminal includes an Infrared transceiver for establishing a wireless communications link with a peripheral device such as a printer. The portable maintenance terminal uploads diagnostic results, activity reports, device status indicators, and other data from the peripheral device over the IR links, and downloads software updates and diagnostic routine to the peripheral. The terminal includes a display providing information about the suite of peripherals installed at a particular location including a map display indicating peripheral status and proposed “minimum walk” for efficiently visiting and servicing the peripheral devices.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The invention relates to computer peripheral equipment and in particular to printers configured to interface with a portable maintenance terminals for accessing maintenance information and updating printer software/firmware.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    The modern office environment typically includes multiple computer workstations, each workstation or group of workstations connected to a nearby printer. It often falls to members of an Information Systems or other computer support staff to maintain, not only the workstations, but the peripheral equipment including printers. In some cases, these printers may be accessible, either directly or indirectly, via connecting workstations, so that a network administrator can update printer resident software and/or firmware and perform other maintenance checks, tests, and functions. However, not all printers are accessible via a network nor are all functions necessarily accessible. Further, printer maintenance personnel must often be physically present at a printer location to perform certain maintenance tasks, such as changing toner cartridges, cleaning the print engine, etc. so that it may be convenient to perform other maintenance locally at the printer rather than via remote access. However, even if available, local access to the printer may require gaining access to the attached computer, loading the appropriate maintenance routines, establishing communications with the printer, downloading maintenance data from the printer to the computer and uploading software/firmware updates to the printer, etc. Alternatively, maintenance personnel can transport the printers to a central maintenance facility to perform these maintenance tasks. Obviously, such an approach is costly in terms of effort and printer downtime.  
           [0003]    Accordingly, a need exists for a system for and method of performing on site maintenance on computer peripheral and other equipment dispersed about a location without requiring use of attached terminal equipment. A further need exists for a maintenance capability and functionality in support of local maintenance of printers.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing for local maintenance of a computer peripheral device such as a printer or scanner without use of computer systems, communication networks or other facilities permanently connected to the printer. The invention provides a portable, handheld maintenance terminal that communicates with a printer using an infrared or other wireless data link. Both the portable maintenance terminal and all printers include appropriate wireless transceivers to establish a wireless link therebetween. The portable maintenance terminal has software and data stored in an internal memory for downloading diagnostic software and/or copying upgraded firmware, font or other data, codes and routines to a printer as appropriate. The wireless link also supports transmission of maintenance data from the printers to the portable maintenance terminal. Such maintenance data may include printer serial number, total pages printed, pages printed since last maintenance, toner level, error codes, results of routine and specialized diagnostic routines, identification of software and firmware used by the printer, etc. The portable maintenance terminal may include a graphic display showing the relative placement, identification, status, and other information about the peripheral devices and may further guide a maintenance technician to and among the devices and provide instructions for interfacing, uploading, downloading, and performing required preventative, routine and/or suggested maintenance. The portable maintenance terminal may be a conventional personal digital assistant (PDA) or other form of portable, preferably handheld, computer programmed to support these maintenance functions. The peripheral device may be a printer having an integral infrared transceiver.  
           [0005]    According to an aspect of the invention, a printer includes an enclosure with a transceiver attached to the enclosure. The transceiver is configured and oriented to establish a wireless communication channel with a remote unit. According to one aspect of the invention, the transceiver includes infrared (IR) detector and emitter circuitry to receive and send IR signals. A print engine is also mounted in the enclosure and has a printer interface including a connector configured to terminate a printer cable connecting the printer to a remote computer. A controller (i) functions to control the print engine in response to a print signal received at the connector, and (ii) is connected to the remote unit via the wireless communication channel to download software from the remote unit and provide maintenance data to the remote unit. The connection providing the print signal e.g., from, a local computer, may be via an appropriate parallel or serial printer port. Maintenance data provided by the controller to the remote unit may include (i) printer serial number, (ii) firmware version, (iii) RAM status, (iv) toner level, (v) pages printed, (vi) error codes, or other information generated or stored by the peripheral. The transceiver may implement an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) protocol.  
           [0006]    According to another aspect of the invention, a portable, handheld maintenance terminal obtains maintenance data from, and downloads software to, each of a plurality of peripheral devices. The terminal includes an appropriate housing or handheld enclosure with an infrared transceiver device configured to establish bidirectional wireless communications with the peripheral devices. A display provides for the presentation of information and tactile control using, for example, virtual buttons and soft keys, etc. A memory stores appropriate programming for the device together with software to be downloaded to the peripheral devices and maintenance data uploaded from the peripheral devices. The operation of the portable maintenance terminal is controlled by a programmable microprocessor mounted in the enclosure and configured to (i) download from a remote maintenance terminal, into the memory, software used by each of the plurality of peripheral devices and (ii) selectively establish a bidirectional data communications link with each of the plurality of peripheral devices. The microprocessor further uploads, from each of the plurality of peripheral devices, to the memory, maintenance data stored by the peripheral devices and downloads, to selected ones of the peripheral devices, updated software from the memory. Finally, data from memory is uploaded under microprocessor control to the remote maintenance terminal, the maintenance data being stored by the peripheral devices.  
           [0007]    According to a feature of the invention, a routing function performed by the microprocessor determines, for each of the peripheral devices, nearby ones of the peripheral devices for which a maintenance activity is indicated and causes the display to provide an indication thereof. The routing capability may take into consideration the urgency of the maintenance to be performed, proximity of devices, time available, and other factors in determining a “minimum walk” and most efficient itinerary for performing maintenance. Thus, the processor is further configured to generate a graphical representation of locations of the peripheral devices so that the display provides a static or moving map display including the graphical representation identifying a present location of the portable maintenance terminal on the map display.  
           [0008]    According to another aspect of the invention, a method of determining a status of a plurality of dispersed, peripheral devices and updating software stored by the peripheral devices requires that a portable, handheld maintenance terminal be positioned near one of the peripheral devices. A bidirectional wireless communications link is established between the handheld maintenance terminal and the one peripheral device, and maintenance information concerning and stored by the one peripheral device is uploaded from the one peripheral device to the handheld maintenance terminal. Conversely, software for execution by the one peripheral device is selectively downloaded from the handheld maintenance device to the one peripheral device. Upon completion of the data exchange, the maintenance terminal is moved to the next peripheral device, wireless communications established, and the processes is continued until all devices are addressed.  
           [0009]    According to a feature of the invention, the wireless transceiver operates in the IR spectrum and is positioned into such optical alignment with an infrared transceiver of the one peripheral device to enable establishment of the wireless communications link therebetween. According to another feature, an identify of the one peripheral device (e.g., make, model, serial number, processor identity, BIOS, software versions, etc.) is transmitted to the terminal device together with and an indication of a number of operations performed by the peripheral device since a prior uploading operation had been performed. The number of operations may include a number of pages printed.  
           [0010]    According to another feature of the invention, a determination is made of a version of software being run by the peripheral device, the version is compared with a latest version of the software available, and, in response, any appropriate software updates are downloaded to the peripheral device. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0011]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system and configuration of devices according to the invention for performing local maintenance of a plurality of printers using a handheld PDA type device;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a logic flow diagram of a method according to the invention for performing local maintenance of computer peripheral devices using a handheld, portable maintenance terminal according to the invention; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a front view of a portable maintenance terminal according to the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a diagram showing devices and a configuration according to the invention including a handheld portable maintenance terminal  10  used to perform local maintenance on any of a number of user work stations  20   a ,  20   b  and  20   c  dispersed about a particular work location. Portable maintenance terminal  10  further interfaces with a maintenance work station  32  for providing access to other resources and for storing of maintenance records.  
         [0016]    Portable maintenance terminal  10  may be a personal digital assistant (PDA) such as the Hewlett Packard HP Jornada 540 Series Color Pocket PC with appropriate software to support an IrDA link with printers  22   a ,  22   b  and  22   c , and communications link with maintenance computer  32 . The software supports uploading maintenance statistics, downloading software to printers, processing, aggregating and analyzing data, performing maintenance scheduling, assisting a technician to locate printers requiring maintenance using a map function, etc.  
         [0017]    Referring to FIG. 1, portable maintenance terminal  10 , includes an IR transceiver  12  for establishing wireless communications with printers  22   a ,  22   b  and  22   c  via respective printer transceiver ports  24   a ,  24   b  and  24   c . The IR transceivers include both an IR emitter for transmitting data and an IR receptor or detector for receiving IR signals. Portable maintenance terminal  10  further includes a graphic display  14  used to control and input data to the device using, for example, a touch sensitive overlay and virtual buttons and/or keyboard. Display  14  is also used to display data received from the printers and information generated by system and application software running on portable maintenance terminal  10 . In addition to the virtual buttons and keys supported by display  14 , portable maintenance terminal  10  may include manually operable switches  16  having either dedicated functions or “soft-functions” defined by software.  
         [0018]    Work stations  20   a ,  20   b  and  20   c  may be in the same general vicinity or dispersed about a work location such that maintenance personnel must go between work station locations to perform service and maintenance on printers  22   a ,  22   b  and  22   c , respectively. Each of the printers includes a respective IR transceiver  24   a - 24   c  and is connected to a local computer  26   a - 26   c  via respective cables  28   a - 28   c . Printers  22   a - 22   c  may be, for example, HP Laser Jet 2100 Series Printer including 4-Mbps IrDA-Complient Infrared port.  
         [0019]    Maintenance terminal  32  communicates with portable maintenance terminal  10  via conventional means including, for example, an IrDA link  34 . Maintenance terminal  32  include a printer maintenance database  36  including an inventory of, for example, printers, software, maintenance requirements, printer status, complaints, required servicing, etc. A printer software database  38  may be used to download appropriate printer software and firmware to portable maintenance terminal  10  for downloading to individual printers  22   a - 22   c  during maintenance rounds performed by maintenance personnel. Maintenance terminal  32  further includes a connection to a remote printer/software database  42  via internet connection  40 . Access to such remote software databases allows maintenance personnel to download the most current version of software and firmware for use by the printers during upgrading.  
         [0020]    Referring to FIG. 2, a logic flow diagram begins at step  102  and, at step  104 , printer software and/or firmware upgrades are downloaded into a PDA used as a platform for the portable maintenance terminal. The PDA identifies printers within IR range at step  106  so that the operator is informed of link establishment as the PDA is positioned about a work space. This may require that the user selects a particular link to be established if several links are available or may require repositioning of the PDA to isolate the desired printer. If the PDA detects that all printers within IrDA range have been serviced, then flow continues to branch  120 , to be described below. Else, if one or more printers still require servicing, then flow continues at step  110  wherein the PDA displays the relative location of the next printer to be serviced. At step  112  an IRDA link is established between the PDA and the printer and, at the software interface level, and the operating system and/or utilities are linked to establish communications between the PDA and the printer. At step  116  maintenance information from the printer is uploaded to the PDA. This information may include, for example, results of printer performed diagnostic routines, printer status, software and/or firmware installed, total and/or incremental number of pages printed by the printer&#39;s print engine, toner level, etc. Using this information, and in combination with other information downloaded from maintenance terminal  32 , appropriate firmware and/or software upgrades are downloaded to the printer from the PDA. Processing then loops back to continue at step  106  to identify other printers requiring servicing within IrDA range. If all printers within IrDa range of the present position have been serviced, then processing continues at branch  120  where a determination is made of whether all printers requiring servicing and/or maintenance at a facility have been addressed. If the user has not serviced all printers, then flow continues its  122  where the PDA displays the location of the nearest printer to be serviced. This display may include a map showing the position of the next printer requiring servicing relative to the technicians present location determined, for example, by the known location of the printer just serviced.  
         [0021]    If all printers have been serviced, then flow continues out of branch  120  to step  124  where a maintenance summary is displayed. At step  126 , maintenance information is uploaded to the maintenance database supported by maintenance terminal  32 .  
         [0022]    The handheld maintenance device may also include a routing function for suggesting an appropriate itinerary for performing printer maintenance and servicing. The routing function may include such factors as giving priority to critical printers, printer outages, and other service affecting faults. The routing function may also take into consideration proximity of devices requiring maintenance so that inefficient routing is developed, minimizing technician travel time and maximizing the number of printers visited. The routing function may further be supported by a map detailing relative location of printers to be serviced, the present location of the user being determined based on the printer most recently serviced. Alternatively, other locating devices may be used, including, for example, GPS (Global Positioning System).  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 is a front view of a portable maintenance terminal implemented using a PDA such as the HP Jornada 540 Series Color Pocket PC. Referring to FIG. 3, portable maintenance terminal  10  includes a multipixel display screen  14  on which programmable virtual buttons  304  may be displayed and activated using a touch sensitive overlay or touch sensitive feature of display screen  14 . A lower portion of display screen  14  is shown displaying a map  302  including a graphical depiction of the relative locations of work areas  310 - 320 , with the current position of portable maintenance terminal  10  shown by the central icon  306 . Thus, map  302  may be implemented as a moving map display, the present location of the handheld maintenance device being determined based on a known location of a most recently serviced printer or by alternative means such as GPS capabilities built into the handheld maintenance device. Also shown as part of the graphic display is the status of the various printers located at or in work areas  310 - 320 . The status may include an indication of printers already serviced (e.g., work area  310 ); the progress of maintenance or service being performed (e.g., work area  312 ); designation of a suggested work area to be visited next (e.g.  314 ); device status and failure indicators (e.g., work area  316 ); device names or functions (e.g., work area  318 ); and device or printer make or model designation (e.g., work area  320 ). Also included as part of portable maintenance terminal  10  are manually activatable push buttons  322  having programmable functions in further support of functionality supported by the device.  
         [0024]    Wireless connectivity between the portable maintenance terminal and printers may use a radio frequency, visible light or, preferably, infrared (IR) communication link. Suitable industry standards for short range directed Infrared data communications are promulgated by the Infrared Data Association. One implementation of a suitable IR link includes a Fast Infrared (FIR) connection. Using this or an equivalent standard and protocol, communications between portable maintenance terminal  10  and printers  22   a - 22   c  may be supported by FIR. FIR is a high speed extension to the set of industry standard infrared protocols published by the Infrared Data Association (IrDA). FIR is interoperable with previous IrDA standards and speed selections. FIR supports data transmission speeds of up to 4 Mb/s. Using FIR, devices negotiate transparently to their highest mode of operation that is a FIR capable portable maintenance terminals operate correctly with SIR, MIR, and FIR capable computer peripherals, such as printers, at the maximum throughput allowed by the printer.  
         [0025]    The combination of using infrared as the physical medium and the IrDA protocol stacks as the data and transport layers allow multiple services on dissimilar devices to operate without the need for any cables or special setup on the part of the user. The portable maintenance terminal and printer automatically establish a connection and exchange pertinent information whenever they are in range, as long as one is a primary and the other is capable of being a secondary. All IrDA compliant devices are capable of operating to a range of 1 meter and up to a 15 degree half angle (30 degree total angle). The IrDA protocol stacks are completely self correcting, so a connection between two IR devices will continue to exist even if the devices are temporarily taken out of range or temporarily blocked by a physical obstruction.  
         [0026]    FIR may be implemented in both firmware and hardware on the printers such as the HP LaserJet 2100 series printers via a FIR receiver (N, TN and DN models). The printer continuously monitors the port waiting for a portable maintenance terminal to come into range, and will then respond to any connection requests. Once the connection is established, the portable maintenance terminal undergoes a service discovery phase to determine what type of device it&#39;s connected to, the device&#39;s capabilities, and what services it offers.  
         [0027]    Portable maintenance terminals based on windows based portable computers run an IR monitor and must be placed within range of a target printer&#39;s FIR receiver. The portable maintenance terminal then displays the printer as being in range and proceeds to upload printer status followed by downloading of any required diagnostic or operational software to the printer.  
         [0028]    While the invention has been described in terms of a handheld maintenance device and dedicated printers, it is equally applicable to other types of devices requiring periodic maintenance and software updates. Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.