Patent Publication Number: US-7916031-B2

Title: Server component for monitoring modules of printing machines utilizing RFID tags

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE AND PRIORITY CLAIM TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This Application claims priority to and is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/139,858 filed Jun. 16, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,859,412, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MONITORING MODULES OF PRINTING MACHINES UTILIZING RFID TAGS”, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to printing machines. In particular, the present disclosure relates to monitoring modules, e.g., consumer replaceable units (herein after referred to as “CRUs”), of printing machines utilizing RFID tags attached thereto. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Automatic Identification and Data Capture, also known as AIDC, refers to the method of automatically identifying objects, collecting data about them, and entering that data directly into computer systems (or other mediums of storage) with minimal, or no, human involvement. AIDC technologies include barcodes, and radio frequency identification (RFID). An AIDC device is a device for reading, and/or writing, data encoded in AIDC media, such as a barcode scanner for reading data encoded in a barcode, or an RFID interrogator for reading and/or writing data encoded in an RFID tag. 
     RFID is a method for automatic identification which uses radiofrequency (RF) signals. A device known as an RFID interrogator which includes an RFID writer and/or a RFID reader, wirelessly reads, and optionally, writes data stored in a transponder, known as an RFID tag, that is physically attached to an article, such as a product, packaging or shipping container. Typically, an RFID tag consists of two main components: an integrated circuit (IC) for storing and processing data and for modulating and demodulating the RF signal, and an antenna coupled to the chip that enables the chip to exchange data between the tag and interrogator. An RFID tag can be read-only, wherein the IC contains unalterable data, such as a unique identification code indelibly encoded by the tag manufacturer which is used to uniquely identify the tag. Alternatively, an RFID tag can be read-write, wherein the stored data can be changed or deleted. Typically, however, a read-write RFID tag will also contain read-only data, such as an indelible unique identification code, so that individual tags can be uniquely identified. 
     RFID tags ordinarily range in sizes from several inches to sizes no larger than a grain of rice. RFID tags can be constructed using an essentially planar form factor and incorporated into a self-adhesive label, for example. It is expected the ability to print RFID tags, much like a barcode is printed, will eventually become widespread using, for example, techniques developed by Xerox for depositing liquid polythiophene semiconductors onto a surface at room temperature. 
     RFID tags fall generally into three categories: passive RFID tags, in which the IC is powered entirely by the minute current induced in the antenna by the RFID interrogator&#39;s signal and where the transmitted RF signal is generated by backscattering the interrogating signal; active RFID tags, in which the IC and the RF transmitter are powered by an included power source, such as an internal battery; and semi-active RFID tags, in which the IC is powered by an included power source while the transmitted RF signal is generated by backscattering. RFID tags typically operate in one of five RF bands: in the low frequency (LF) range of 125-135 KHz, in the 13.56 MHz high frequency (HF) region, in the ultra high frequency (UHF) range of 868-930 MHz, in the 2.45 GHz microwave region, and in the 5.8 GHz microwave region. RFID tags are operational at distances ranging from a few inches to several yards in the case of passive tags, while active tags can operate at distances of over a quarter-mile. 
     Additionally, sensors can be included in an RFID tag to enable the tag to measure and record temperature, humidity, G-forces, radiation, and/or other environmental phenomena, which can thereafter be read by the interrogator to determine whether the tagged item has been exposed to extreme or undesirable conditions. Such RFID tags are commonly used in, for example, the shipment and handling of perishable, fragile or sensitive items. An RFID tag can also have the ability to be rendered permanently inoperable upon receiving an appropriate “self-destruct” command from the RFID interrogator. Demand for these kinds of creative solutions (and other solutions) utilizing RFID tags has continued to be strong in recent years. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure relates to printing machines. In particular, the present disclosure relates to monitoring modules, e.g., consumer replaceable units (referred to herein as “CRUs”), of printing machines utilizing RFID tags attached thereto. A printing machine may be an image forming apparatus, a printer, a printing system, a copier, a facsimile machine, a multifunction device (e.g., a scanner integrated with a printer) and/or the like. A module may be, for example, a consumer replaceable unit, an installable module installable in a printing machine (e.g., installable by a technician or an end-user) and/or the like. A module may or may not be related to marking and may need periodic replacement, e.g., a roller or an oil wick. 
     In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a server component is at least partially implemented by an operative set of processor executable instructions configured for execution by at least one processor. The server component may be implemented on a computing device comprising a memory and the at least one processor. The server component includes a network interface and an analysis component. The network interface is in operative communication with a network and is configured to communicate with at least two nodes of different node types. The network interface is also in operative communication with a local RFID tag attached to a corresponding module. The corresponding module may be a CRU, a photoreceptor drum, a photoreceptor belt, a fuser roll, a toner bottle, a toner drum, a fluid container, a filter, a web cartridge, an AC dicor module, a DC charge assay, an AC dicor preclean and/or a developer waste bottle. A node of the at least two nodes may be a printer-based node associated with a printing machine. Another node of the at least two nodes may have a node type of one of a cabinet-based node and a supply-room-based node. The analysis component is configured to utilize the network interface to communicate with the node associated with the printing machine such that the analysis component is in operative communication with the local RFID tag attached to the corresponding module. The node associated with the printing machine interrogates the local RFID tag to retrieve information relating to the corresponding module and communicates the information to the server component. 
     In another embodiment of the present disclose, another node of the at least two nodes is a cabinet-based node. The node and the another node operatively update an approximate level of remaining usage of the corresponding module utilizing the information on the local RFID. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the node associated with the printing machine operatively interrogates the local RFID tag to retrieve the information. The information includes anti-counterfeiting information. The anti-counterfeiting information is operatively communicated to the server component and the server component determines if the corresponding module is a counterfeit module. 
     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a database component is in operative communication with the analysis component. The analysis component operatively communicates with the local RFID tag attached to the corresponding module to determine a property of at least one of the local RFID tag and the corresponding module. The analysis component communicates the at least one property to the database component. The database component stores the at least one property and associates the at least one property with the at least one of the local RFID tag and the corresponding module. The database component and the server component may be implemented on a single computing device or on separate computing devices. 
     The at least one property of the corresponding module may include one or more of an End-Of-Life estimate, a version number, a revision number, a firmware version, a manufacturer source, a model number, a shipping number, a date of manufacture, a lot number, a factory association and a pedigree. The at least one property may include an End-Of-Life estimate and the analysis component estimates the End-Of-Life estimate utilizing at least one of a page count, a toner volume, a power on time, a usage, a remaining usage and a pixel count. The at least one of the page count, the toner volume, the power on time, the usage, the remaining usage and the pixel count is stored in the local RFID tag. 
     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one property may include an End-Of-Life estimate and the analysis component can compare the End-Of-Life estimate to a predicated End-Of-Life estimate. Additionally or alternatively, the analysis component operatively communicates with the at least two nodes to determine a plurality of End-Of-Life estimates. Each End-Of-Life estimate can correspond to a corresponding module having a corresponding RFID tag attached thereto. The analysis component can utilizes the corresponding RFID tag to determine an End-Of-Life estimate of the corresponding module. The analysis component compares the plurality of End-Of-Life estimates to a plurality of predicted End-Of-Life estimates to identify a plurality of increased-wear modules. The analysis component utilizes the identified plurality of increased-wear modules to identify a printing machine having an increased-wear fault. The increased-wear fault causes the increased-wear modules to have increased-wear. The analysis component orders a replacement printing machine part to negate the increased-wear fault. Additionally or alternatively, the analysis component can order a replacement module to compensate for an increased-wear module of the plurality of increased-wear modules. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a sensor is configured to sense at least one property of the corresponding module. The sensor operatively communicates the at least one property to an RFID writer. The RFID writer writes the at least one property to the local RFID tag. 
     In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the analysis component operatively communicates with the node to determine at least one of an inventory level, a usage rate of the corresponding module, a printing machine health statistic, a hardware compliance of the corresponding module and/or a software compliance of the corresponding module. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the various embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a module monitoring system that monitors modules utilizing a plurality of nodes and each node is a node type in accordance with the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart diagram illustrating a method of monitoring modules in accordance with the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a module monitoring system  100  that monitors a plurality of nodes, each node being a node type, in accordance with the present disclosure. A module may be a consumer replaceable unit, an installable module installable in a printing machine (e.g., installable by a technician or an end-user) and the like. System  100  includes a server component  102  and a database component  104 . Server component  102  and/or database component  104  may be implemented (wholly or partially) in hardware, software, firmware, software in execution, bytecode, or some combination thereof. For example server component  102  and/or database component  104  may be implemented by an x86-processor based computer. Additionally or alternatively, server component  102  and/or database component  104  may be the implemented by the same computing device or separate computing devices. Database component  104  may be a structured query language (commonly abbreviated as “SQL”) based database. 
     Server component  102  and database component  104  can communicate between each other as depicted, e.g., through an Ethernet based network. However, server component  102  may alternatively communicate to database component  104  through a network  106 . Network  106  may be the internet, a TCP/IP network, a wired or wireless network, or the like. Additionally or alternatively, server component  102  can communicate to database component  104  using shared memory, e.g., when both are implemented on the same computing device. 
     Server component  102  includes a network interface  108  and an analysis component  110 . Network interface  108  and analysis component  110  are in communication with each other. Network interface  108  interfaces with network  106  facilitating analysis component  110  to be in operative communication with network  106 . Analysis component  110  is in operative communication with nodes  112 ,  114  and  116  by utilizing network interface  108  and network  106 . 
     Nodes  112  through  116  can communicate with RFIDs tags. Each of nodes  112  through  116  can interrogate an RFID tag (via a RFID reader), can write to an RFID tag (via a RFID writer) and includes a network interface to network  106 . The RFID reader, RFID writer and network interfaces are not depicted and are the purview of those of ordinary skill in the art. Node  112  is within a printing machine  118  and therefore is a “printer-base node” type; node  114  is within a cabinet  120  making it a “cabinet-based node” type; node  116  is within a supply room  122  making it a “supply-room-based node” type. The printer-based node type  112  is associated with or integrated with a printing machine. As mentioned above, a printing machine may be an image forming apparatus, a printer, a printing system, a copier, a facsimile machine, a multifunction device (e.g., a scanner integrated with a printer) and the like. 
     Node  112  can communicate with RFID tags  124  and  128 , attached to modules  126  and  130 , respectively. RFID tags  124  and  126  are within (or relatively near) the communication zone of node  112  making RFID tags  124  and  126  “local” to node  112 , i.e. a local RFID tag is an RFID tag within (or near) the communications zone of a respective node. A “corresponding” module is the module attached to a specific RFID tag, i.e., the module corresponds to the RFID tag attached thereto. Node  114  has two local RFID tags, which are RFID tags  132  and  134  attached to modules  136  and  138 , respectively. Additionally, supply room  122  contains module  140  that has RFID  142  attached. All of the local RFIDs of nodes  112 ,  114  and  116  interface are in operative communication with server component  102  via network  106 . A module is any part, device, component or apparatus which is installable, repairable, replaceable or transferable from or within a printing machine, or the like. For example, a module may be a CRU, a photoreceptor drum, a photoreceptor belt, a fuser roll, a toner bottle, a toner drum, a fluid container, a filter, a web cartridge, an AC dicor module, a DC charge assay, an AC dicor preclean and/or a developer waste bottle. 
     Note that server component  102  can communicate with RFID tags attached to its corresponding modules in a variety of physical spaces facilitating large scale tracking and/or information gathering (e.g., global tracking and/or information gathering). Additionally, database component  104  can store related data or information (or analyzed data or information) regarding modules facilitating further analysis by analysis component  110  or may be stored for later retrieval by personnel and/or for retrieval by other computer programs. Data or information relating to a property of a module and/or a property of a RFID tag may be stored by database component  104 . Additionally or alternatively, the data or information relating to a property of a module and/or a property of a RFID tag may be stored on the corresponding RFID tag itself utilizing one or more nodes (e.g., nodes  112 ,  114  and/or  116 ). The data or information may include a property of a module and/or a property of a RFID tag. For example, nodes  112 ,  114 , and/or  116  may operatively update an approximate level of remaining usage as related to module  130  utilizing the information on RFID tag  126  thereby keeping track of a “level” regardless of whether module  130  is currently near node  112  or node  114 . The remaining usage may be used as an indication to determine a level (partial or full) as associated with a module (e.g., ink levels). Additionally, the data or information may relate to counterfeiting. For example, node  112  can interrogate RFID tag  126  to retrieve anti-counterfeiting information and communicate the anti-counterfeiting information to server component  102 . Server component  102  can determine if module  126  is a counterfeit module. Thereafter, server component  102  can disable the use of that module within printing machine  118  by sending an appropriate instruction or command via network  106 . 
     The properties stored on database component  104  and/or the respective RFID can be one or more of an End-Of-Life estimate, a version number, a revision number, a firmware version, a manufacturer source, a model number, a shipping number, a date of manufacture, a lot number, a factory association and a pedigree. A pedigree is a travel, manufacturing, repair, and/or rework history of the module and the like. One type of pedigree is a manufacturing pedigree and includes manufacturing information related to the module. 
     Sensor  144  may be utilized within printing machine  118  to facilitate the determination of a property of module  128 . For example, sensor  144  may be a camera, a photodetector, a counter, a non-contact sensor (e.g., to sense wear) or other sensor that may be implemented in a printing machine  118 . The End-Of-Life estimate by may be an estimate of the useful life of the module and may be stored on the RFID tags. The End-Of-Life estimate may be determined by analysis  110  utilizing one or more of a page count (e.g., pages printed by the module or with the module in operation), a toner volume, a power-on time, a usage, a remaining usage (e.g., count down device), and/or a pixel cont. The End-Of-Life estimate and/or one of the above mentioned items utilized by the analysis component  110  to determine the End-Of-Life can be stored by database component  103 , on RFID  124  and/or on sensor  144 . 
     End-Of-Life estimates may be determined by monitoring actual rates and/or changes in a module (as mentioned above) and may be contrary to predicated End-Of-Life estimates. Analysis component  110  may compare actual or measured End-Of-Life estimates to a predicted End-Of-Life measurement. Analysis component  110  may compare multiple End-Of-Life estimates to multiple predicted End-Of-Life estimates to identify increased-wear modules, despite that the modules are near differing node types. The increased-wear modules may be the result of a printer fault, e.g., from a fault from within printing machine  118 . Note again that various increased-wear modules do not need to be within printing machine  118  for analysis component  110  to determine that the increased-wear was from an increased-wear fault within printing machine  118 ; analysis component  110  only needs to determine if the increased-wear module was ever within printing machine  118 . For example, assuming that module  138  is an increased-wear module, analysis component  110  can communicate with database component  104  to determine that module  138  was previously within printing machine  118 , and can attribute the increased-wear to a fault within printing machine  118  despite currently being stored in cabinet  120 . Analysis component  110  can order replacement modules to compensate for the increased-wear modules. Additionally or alternately, analysis component  110  can order a replacement printing machine part to negate the increased-wear fault. 
     Analysis component  110  may additionally perform other function by communicating with modules. For example, analysis component  110  can determine inventory levels (e.g., inventory levels of a customer, a region, a particular printing machine, e.g., printing machine  118 , a country and the like), usage rates, health statistics, hardware compliance and/or software compliance. For example, analysis component  110  may use one or more modules to determine health statistics of printing machine  118  to determine when the machine needs adjusting, how much of an adjustment is needed and may place an order or issue a “ticket” to facilitate the scheduling of maintenance. For example, analysis component  110  may preemptively request service on printing machine  118  to avoid machine breakdown or unacceptable faults. 
     Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 2  is a flow chart diagram illustrating a method  200  of monitoring modules in accordance with the present disclosure. Step  202  provides a node, e.g., nodes  112 ,  114 , and/or  116  of  FIG. 1 . Step  204  provides a server component, such as server component  102  of  FIG. 1 . Step  206  interrogates a RFID tag attached to a module to retrieve information (such as data, a property of the module and/or the RFID tag and the like) relating to the module. Step  208  communicates the information to the server component and step  210  estimates an End-Of-Life estimate of the module. 
     It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.