Abstract:
A method of notifying an operator of an event with respect to a hard copy output engine includes detecting a status of a portion of the hard copy output engine from a sensor incorporated in the hard copy output engine and displaying, in response to detecting, a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface includes information describing the portion and the status, and includes a set of user-selectable options. The set of user-selectable options includes dismissal of the graphical user interface, assistance in ordering consumables or services identified by the graphical user interface, deferment of action with respect to the consumables or services identified by the graphical user interface for a user-selectable interval and inhibiting further displaying of the graphical user interface.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates to printers and other hard copy output engines. More particularly, the invention relates to a consumables/printer management system providing indications of future needs in conjunction with providing indications of present needs.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    As computer systems and data communications systems have developed, the number and variety of hard copy output engines employed in a typical office or factory setting has grown. Examples include photo copiers, facsimile machines, printers and devices including more than one of these capabilities. In turn, this has led to a need to be able to order greater amounts of consumable supplies, some of which are specific to specific types of hard copy output engines.  
           [0003]    As need for these types of hard copy output engines has grown, a number of different manufacturers have developed different hard copy output engines providing different operational characteristics and capabilities. While some consumable commodities associated with these devices are common to most or all such devices (e.g., standardized paper sizes), other consumable commodities, such as toners and toner supply cartridges or ink reservoirs, tend to be unique to a specific manufacturer and may be unique to a specific product line from that manufacturer. Additionally, different hard copy output engines may have different paper capacities, capabilities for accepting more or fewer paper sizes and different toner or other pigment supply requirements and capacities. Further, as hard copy output engines have been developed to provide increasing capabilities, the number of different consumable supplies utilized by the hard copy output engines has grown.  
           [0004]    For example, hard copy output engines capable of processing jobs requiring different paper sizes need to be stocked with more than one kind or size of paper. Additionally, color printers require multiple pigmentation sources, which may be multiple ink reservoirs for liquid or solid inks, or may be multiple toners representing different primary colors.  
           [0005]    It is generally helpful to have a mechanism for scheduling and tracking orders of consumable commodities and/or service in keeping computer systems functional. For example, it is extremely helpful to ensure that adequate supplies of replacement paper and toner or ink are available when needed.  
           [0006]    Coordination of orders for supplies can be very helpful to avoid over-or under-stocking of these consumable commodities, while still achieving the benefits of economies of scale by pooling orders to service multiple hard copy output engines, especially those using at least some of the same consumable commodities. However, in many business settings, the sheer number of diverse hard copy output engines being used in different aspects or divisions of the business may lead to confusion in maintaining adequate supplies of these consumable commodities and in scheduling replacement of consumable commodities as well as scheduling preventative maintenance.  
           [0007]    What is needed is a way to facilitate and coordinate scheduling replacement of consumable commodities, as well as scheduling preventative maintenance, for one or more hard copy output engines that are included in a network.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method of notifying an operator of an event with respect to a hard copy output engine includes detecting a status of a portion of the hard copy output engine from a sensor incorporated in the hard copy output engine and displaying, in response to detecting, a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface includes information describing the portion and the status, and includes a set of user-selectable options. The set of user-selectable options includes dismissal of the graphical user interface, assistance in ordering consumables or services identified by the graphical user interface, deferment of action with respect to the consumables or services identified by the graphical user interface for a user-selectable interval and inhibiting further displaying of the graphical user interface.  
           [0009]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an article of manufacture includes a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein. The computer readable code is configured to cause a processor to detect a status of a portion of the hard copy output engine from a sensor incorporated in the hard copy output engine and to display, in response to the status, a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface includes information to describe the portion and the status. The graphical user interface is configured to provide a set of user-selectable options including: dismissal of the graphical user interface, assistance in ordering consumables or services identified by the graphical user interface, deferment of action with respect to the consumables or services identified by the graphical user interface for a user-selectable interval and inhibiting further displaying of the graphical user interface.  
           [0010]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a computer implemented control system for a hard copy output engine includes a sensor coupled to a portion of the hard copy output engine. The sensor is configured to provide a status of the portion. The system also includes a video interface and processing circuitry coupled to the sensor and to the video interface. The processing circuitry is configured to detect the status of the portion and to display via the video interface and in response to detecting, a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface is configured to provide information to describe the portion and the status, and to include a set of user-selectable options. The user-selectable options include dismissal of the graphical user interface, assistance in ordering consumables or services identified by the graphical user interface, deferment of action with respect to the consumables or services identified by the graphical user interface for a user-selectable interval and inhibiting further displaying of the graphical user interface.  
           [0011]    Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a computer network including a computer and a hard copy output engine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a computer network including multiple hard copy output engines, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a process, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a simplified depiction of a graphical user interface for reorder assistance notification interaction, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a computer network  10  including a video display  11  coupled to a computer  12  having a floppy disc drive  13 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The display  11  may comprise a conventional cathode ray tube, a liquid crystal display, and active matrix display, a field emission device display, a plasma panel display or other types of video displays useful in conjunction with the computer  12 .  
         [0017]    The network  10  also includes a hard copy output engine  14 . The hard copy output engine  14  includes a controller  15 , such as a conventional microprocessor or microcontroller. The hard copy output engine  14  also includes a memory  16  in data communication with the controller  15  and one or more sensors  17  coupled to the controller  15 . The memory  16  is configured to embody computer readable code for configuring the processor  15  to carry out various operations and may include an electrically alterable read only memory (EAROM), electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), a write-once, read-many memory (WORM), magnetic, magneto-optic or optical storage media, such as conventional disc storage or floppy disc data storage units, or CD-ROMs or the like, and may include read/write memory such as DRAMs or SRAMs.  
         [0018]    The computer  12  is coupled to the hard copy output engine  14  via a data path such as a bus  20  allowing either the computer  12  or the hard copy output engine  14  to initiate data communications with the other. In one embodiment, the hard copy output engine  14  is a device such as a printer, copier, facsimile machine, or a multifunction device capable of providing two or more such functions. In one embodiment, the system  10  is coupled to other external devices (not shown in FIG. 1) via the bus  20 . In one embodiment, the bus  20  includes an intranet. In one embodiment, the bus  20  includes a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN). In one embodiment, the bus  20  includes access to the Internet.  
         [0019]    In one embodiment, the computer  12  and the hard copy output engine  14  are capable of exchanging data via a protocol compatible with presence of other computers  12 , hard copy output engines  14  or other devices on the bus  20 . In one embodiment, the computer  12  and the hard copy output engine  14  employ an object-oriented request-reply protocol supporting asynchronous hard copy output engine query, control and monitor capabilities, and that is capable of documenting the requests, replies and data types supported by the protocol.  
         [0020]    In one embodiment, the bus  20  provides common gateway interface (CGI) data communication capability. In one embodiment, the bus  20  includes an email capability (e.g., simple mail transfer protocol or SMTP) for facilitating data communication. In one embodiment, the bus  20  includes a secure data path using HTTP (hyper text transfer protocol) with SSL (secure sockets layer), as is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,390, entitled “Secure Socket Layer Application Program Apparatus And Method”, issued to Elgamal et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,081,900, entitled “Secure Intranet Access” and issued to Subramanian et al., which patents are hereby incorporated herein by reference for their teachings.  
         [0021]    The sensors  17  are coupled to consumable commodities associated with the hard copy output engine  14 . In one embodiment, when the sensors  17  report that a quantity of a consumable commodity (e.g., paper, toner or ink) associated with the hard copy output engine  14  has decreased to below a predetermined threshold amount, or that malfunction of a dispenser of a consumable commodity exists, the controller  15  initiates a data communication ultimately intended for transmission via the data path  20 , as is described below in more detail with reference to FIG. 3. Alternatively or additionally, the sensors  17  may log hours of operation and/or loading (such as number of pages handled) in order to determine when preventive maintenance is appropriate, or may report other malfunction of the hard copy output engine  14 .  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a computer network or system  25  including multiple hard copy output engines  14 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The network  25  of FIG. 2 includes a link  32 , which may include a firewall  34 , to other networks  36 , which may be internal or external. The network  25  also may include print clients  40 , such as Microsoft  42  and/or Unix  44 , as well as others. The network  25  may further include print spoolers  46 , such as NT  48 , Unix  50  and/or Netware  52 , as well as others. The network  25  may also include a plurality of hard copy output engines  14 , which may include printers as well as facsimile/copier  60 .  
         [0023]    In one embodiment, the print clients  40  and the print spoolers  46  are coupled via the bus  20  to other data processing equipment (not shown), where the bus  20  is configured for data communication using HTTP, although other protocols may be used. In one embodiment, a different protocol, such as SNMP, is used, although other protocols may be used.  
         [0024]    In general, it is desirable to obtain data directly from a hard copy output engine  14  because this does not require modification of the network software.  
         [0025]    In one embodiment, the link  32  comprises an intranet. In one embodiment, the link  32  accommodates HTTP for data communication.  
         [0026]    Providing usage and status information relative to the print clients  40 , the print spoolers  46  and the individual hard copy output engines  14  can permit more effective and timely ordering of consumables and preventative maintenance for hard copy output engines  14 .  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a process P 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The process P 1  begins in a query task S 1 .  
         [0028]    In the query task S 1 , the processor  15  determines if any consumables/maintenance items warrant further action. In one embodiment, one of the sensors  17  of FIG. 1 detects that an amount of a consumable commodity has fallen below a predetermined level.  
         [0029]    In one embodiment, a “toner low” or “toner out” condition may be detected. In one embodiment, the hard copy output engine  14  may have multiple toner cartridges or other pigment supplies in order to be able to provide color images.  
         [0030]    In one embodiment, the sensor  17  may detect that preventative maintenance needs to be scheduled. In one embodiment, the sensor  17  may determine that the hard copy output engine  14  is malfunctioning, and that an appointment for a service technician needs to be scheduled.  
         [0031]    In one embodiment, the sensor  17  detects an event such as toner out, toner low, preventative maintenance alerts, including cleaning or replacement of component parts, consumables orders and low or “out of” status for other consumables or need for other maintenance items.  
         [0032]    When the query task S 1  fails to identify that any consumables/maintenance items warrant further action, control passes to a step S 2 .  
         [0033]    In the step S 2 , the processor  15  sets a timer to wait for a predetermined interval. When the processor determines that the predetermined interval has passed, the query task S 1  is repeated.  
         [0034]    When the query task S 1  does identify that any consumables/maintenance items warrant further action, control passes to a step S 3 .  
         [0035]    In the step S 3 , the consumable/maintenance item that warrants attention is added to a notification list. Control then passes to a query task S 4 .  
         [0036]    In the query task S 4 , the processor  15  polls others of the sensors  17  to determine if any other consumables/maintenance items are within threshold limits of requiring further action.  
         [0037]    When the query task S 4  determines that another of the sensors  17  indicates that another consumable/maintenance item is within threshold limits of requiring further action, control passes to a step S 5 .  
         [0038]    In the step S 5 , the another consumable/maintenance item identified in the query task S 4  as being within threshold limits of requiring further action is added to the notification list that was begun in the step S 3 . Control then passes back to the query task S 4 .  
         [0039]    When the query task S 4  determines that no further consumable/maintenance items are within threshold limits, control passes to a step S 6 .  
         [0040]    In the step S 6 , the notification list may be augmented with additional information. This information may include data allowing identification of the specific hard copy output engine  14  in which the conditions relating to the query task S 1  were identified.  
         [0041]    In the step S 6 , the notification list is incorporated into an electronic message, and the electronic message is transmitted. In one embodiment, the notification lists from several of the hard copy output engines  14  of FIG. 2 may be “pooled” or included together in a single electronic message to further reduce handling and shipping requirements for maintaining the hard copy output engines  14  in good operable condition. In one embodiment, the electronic message is transmitted to a URL via the Internet. In one embodiment, the electronic message is transmitted as an email.  
         [0042]    In one embodiment, a program such as Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Exchange, both available from Microsoft of Redmond, Wash., may be used to send electronic messages via email, for example. The operation of the Outlook email product from Microsoft (Redmond, Wash.) is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,369 filed on Oct.  27 ,  1997 , entitled “Continuous object synchronization between object stores on different computers” and issued to Charles Wu and George Hu, and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,137, filed on Oct. 31, 1997, entitled “Method for updating and displaying the hierarchy of a data store” and issued to Alon Brown, Scott Thurlow and Steven Wells, which patents are hereby incorporated herein by reference for their teachings.  
         [0043]    The process P 1  then ends.  
         [0044]    In one embodiment, at least a portion of the process P 1  is carried out via the processor  15 . In one embodiment, at least a portion of the process P 1  is carried out via the computer  12 . In one embodiment, at least a portion of the process P 1  is carried out via a server or exchange server.  
         [0045]    For example, in the query task S 1 , one of the sensors  17  may indicate that “CYAN TONER IS LOW.” Then, during a first pass, the query task S 4  may determine that “MAGENTA TONER IS AT OR NEAR LOW THRESHOLD.” This facilitates replacement of both the cyan toner cartridge and the magenta toner cartridge via a single order, by noting that the next toner cartridge that is likely to fail is the magenta cartridge. This provides savings in labor in shipping the cartridges and in replacing the cartridges, and also reduces the amount of time that the hard copy output engine  14  is inoperable due to being serviced.  
         [0046]    Additionally, in another iteration of the query task S 4  prior to execution of the step S 6 , another one of the sensors  17  may provide an indication that the “FUSER IS AT OR NEAR LOW THRESHOLD.” In this instance, the electronic message may include this information, providing additional labor and cost savings in filling the order, shipping the order and in the amount of time that one or more of the hard copy engines  14  is inoperable due to being serviced.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 4 is a simplified depiction of a graphical user interface  70  for reorder assistance notification interaction, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The graphical user interface  70  includes a label  71  and multiple buttons  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80  and  84  and also includes a pull-down menu  82  activated by user interaction via a tactile input device such as a mouse.  
         [0048]    When the query task S 1  of FIG. 3 indicates that any consumables/maintenance items warrant further action, or when the query task S 4  similarly indicates that any consumables/maintenance items warrant further action, the user may be provided with the graphical user interface  70 .  
         [0049]    The user is apprized of the nature of the consumables/maintenance items warranting further action via the label  71 . In the case illustrated in FIG. 4, a need to order toner is displayed. Optionally, the graphical user interface  70  can provide information regarding where to order the item indicated by the label  71 .  
         [0050]    The graphical user interface  70  allows the user to avoid further notifications with respect to these consumables/maintenance items warranting further action by selection of the button  72 , labeled “DISMISS”. This selection avoids having one&#39;s thought flow altered or disturbed while engaging in tasks requiring concentration, for example.  
         [0051]    The graphical user interface  70  also allows the user to avoid further notifications with respect to these consumables/maintenance items warranting further action by selection of the button  74 , labeled “ORDER SUPPLIES”. This selection causes the process P 1  to proceed to the step S 6  and to place an order for the consumables/maintenance items that have been identified by the query task(s) S 1  and perhaps also those identified by the query task S 4 . This option provides assistance in automatically placing the order electronically. Items identified in the query task S 4  may also be included in the order because these items are also known to be near a predetermined life-milestone.  
         [0052]    The graphical user interface  70  also allows the user to defer further notifications with respect to these consumables/maintenance items warranting further action by selection of the button  76 , labeled “SNOOZE”. This selection causes the process P 1  to not trigger further displays of the graphical user interface  70  with respect to the consumables/maintenance items already identified as warranting further action for an interval that is user-selectable via the button  80  and pull-down menu  82 . In one embodiment, the pull-down menu  82  allows the user to select between a variety of pre-programmed “snooze” periods. In one embodiment, the pull-down menu  82  also acts as a user-writeable window in which the user may specify a chosen “snooze” period, such as “half a day” or two and one-half days” or the like.  
         [0053]    The graphical user interface  70  also allows the user to avoid further notifications with respect to these consumables/maintenance items warranting further action by selection of the button  78 , labeled “CONFIGURE”. This selection allows the user to “turn off” the graphical user interface  70  so that the user does not receive further prompts regarding these consumables/maintenance items warranting further action.  
         [0054]    In one embodiment, the graphical user interface  70  is available to the user at the order placement stage, as described above. In one embodiment, the graphical user interface  70  is available to the user at the order consolidation stage, for example, when a group of notification lists from a group of hard copy output engines  14 , as shown in FIG. 2, are consolidated together prior to sending the electronic message in the step S 6  of FIG. 3. In one embodiment, the graphical user interface  70  is available to the user at the order tracking stage, i.e., in tracking progress of an order to determine when a particular consumable or service that has been ordered/scheduled is expected to become available or to be performed.  
         [0055]    The protection sought is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, which are given by way of example only, but instead is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.