Abstract:
A method and apparatus for tracking a plurality of image devices in a network is provided including steps of detecting an imaging device change in the network, communicating the detected change to a database tracking the plurality of image devices in the network, and updating the database based on the detected change.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    It is known to provide a plurality of printers on a network for printing documents by many users. By way of example, a network with a large number of users may include a color printer, a high speed laser printer, and a low speed laser printer. Various users may then select the appropriate printer for their particular print job, such as the color printer for a color photo, the high speed printer for a report, or the low speed printer for a memo.  
           [0002]    Printer changes on the network, however, cannot be adequately tracked using known techniques. By way of example, if the color printer described above is broken and removed from the network by a local user, a network administrator may not be notified by the local user. Hence, without proper notification, the network administrator will not be able to timely respond to network issues, such as ordering a new color printer to replace the broken one. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0003]    [0003]FIG. 1 depicts a network including a server at a monitoring station and a plurality of imaging devices at a customer site according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0004]    [0004]FIG. 2 depicts a method of operating the network of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 3 depicts a method of operating the network of FIG. 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 4 depicts a method of operating the network of FIG. 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary log file according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0008]    Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.  
         [0009]    A network including a monitoring station  112 , and a plurality of imaging devices at a customer site  110  according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1. The exemplary network includes a plurality of imaging devices  120 ,  122 , and  124  in communication with a plurality of spoolers  130 ,  132 , and  134 . For purposes of illustration only, three different imaging devices are shown, including printer  124 , photocopier  122 , and facsimile machine  120 . Other imaging devices are also plausible, as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this disclosure.  
         [0010]    Spoolers  130 ,  132 , and  134  are configured to receive imaging requests from a plurality of computers (not shown) coupled to the network, and to queue received imaging requests to the imaging devices  120 ,  122 , and  124 . Additionally, spoolers  130 ,  132 , and  134  are configured to be in communication with database server  140  in the monitoring station  112 , which tracks the plurality of imaging devices  120 ,  122 , and  124  in database  142  (e.g., an Oracle database, a Microsoft Access database, etc.).  
         [0011]    Operation of the aforedescribed network according to another embodiment of the present invention will now be set forth in reference to FIG. 2. In step  200 , one (or more) of the spoolers  130 ,  132 , and/or  134  detects an imaging device change in the network. By way of example, an imaging device change may comprise one of addition of an imaging device to the network, deletion of an imaging device from the network, replacement of an imaging device in the network, and modification of an imaging device in the network. Such a change may be caused, for example, by a local user, by a hardware failure, etc.  
         [0012]    According to various embodiments of the present invention, step  200  may be performed by monitoring the spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134  for image forming device object changes, monitoring the spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134  for events occurring on the spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134 , or both monitoring for image forming device object changes and monitoring for events occurring on the spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134 . By way of example, the spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134  may monitor print object changes, such as a changed network/printing address, a changed printing device status (e.g., online, ready, offline, error, etc.), a driver change, a failure to communicate error, or other print object changes. Alternatively, the spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134  may monitor events occurring on the spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134 , such as monitoring an event log on the spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134  that tracks printer additions, deletions, etc. Other techniques for performing step  200  are also encompassed (such as a combination of the two techniques noted above), as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this disclosure.  
         [0013]    The detected change is then communicated in step  210  to database  142  (FIG. 1) for tracking the plurality of imaging devices  120 ,  122 ,  124  in the network. By way of example, the network may be used to transmit a detected change notification from one (or more) of spoolers  130 ,  132 ,  134  to database server  140  (e.g., via http protocol). According to one embodiment of the present invention, each spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134  transmits a detected change notification individually whenever a change is detected.  
         [0014]    After the detected change notification has been received from the spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134 , the database  142  (FIG. 1) is then updated based on the detected change. By way of example, the database  142  may be automatically updated by database server  140  whenever a detected change notification has be received by the database server  140 . Alternatively, database server  140  may notify a system administrator of the detected change (e.g. via an email message, a prompt on a screen, etc.), such that the system administrator may confirm that the detected change is correct, and then manually make the necessary update in the database  142 .  
         [0015]    Operation of the aforedescribed network according to yet another embodiment of the present invention will now be set forth in reference to FIG. 3. In step  300 , database server  140  registers on the spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134  as a recipient of event notification. By way of example, a new database server  140  may transmit a message to spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134  upon initialization. The spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134  then stores one or more registered database servers  140  in a table or log file thereon.  
         [0016]    In step  310 , the spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134  is monitored for events occurring on the spooler (e.g., by the spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134  itself, or by a central spooler monitor which may monitor one or more of spoolers  130 ,  132 ,  134 ) and generates an event notification in step  320  to the registered database server  140  when an event occurs. Steps  310  and  320  may be performed in a like manner as in previous embodiments. The spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134  then transmits the event notification to the registered database servers  140  in step  330 . By way of example, the spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134  may transmit each event notification to all registered database servers  140  (if more than one database server  140  is registered thereon), to each registered database server  140  registered for a particular type of event, etc. The registered servers  140  in receipt of the event notification then update their given database(s)  142  based on the detected change. It should thus be appreciated that each database server  140  may be registered on one or more spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134 , and each spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134  may have more than one database server  140  registered thereon.  
         [0017]    Operation of the aforedescribed network according to yet another embodiment of the present invention will now be set forth in reference to FIG. 4. In step  400 , the spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134  is monitored for events occurring on the spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134  in a like manner as previously described. When an occurring event is detected, the spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134  then logs the occurring event in a log file on the spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134  (or on a central node, not shown) in step  410 . Hence, the log file accumulates and stores occurring event entries for future reference. See FIG. 5 for an exemplary log file according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]    Periodically or upon initiation by a network administrator or other entity, the database server  140  queries the event log on the spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134  (e.g., via a Windows Management Interface). By way of example, database server  140  may query the event log on a daily basis to update the database  142  based on the last day&#39;s events. If a new event has been logged on the spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134  within the last day or since the last query, the spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134  transmits an event notification to the querying database server  140  in step  430 . If no new event has been logged on the spooler  130 ,  132 ,  134  within the last day or since the last query, the spooler may or may not transmit a notification of the same to the querying database server  140  depending on the particular implementation desired. The database server  140  then updates the database  142  in step  440  in a like manner as previously described.  
         [0019]    The aforementioned embodiments provide for accurately tracking image forming devices  120 ,  122 ,  124  as a managed fleet of image forming devices  120 ,  122 ,  124 . In this manner, an offsite or on-site monitoring station  112  can accurately track changes in a fleet of image forming devices  120 ,  122 ,  124  at a customer site  110  (FIG. 1). In some embodiments, an entirely automated process can be used to provide instantaneously up-to-date information about the customer site  110 , without polling or manual intervention, thereby allowing efficient and detailed maintenance of the customer site  110  by the monitoring station  112 .  
         [0020]    The foregoing description of various embodiments 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, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.