System and method for tracking application information in customizable multifunction peripherals

• US 10,097,718 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2017
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Melo, Bill, Kodimer, Marianne, Park, Young, Su, William, Zhang, Jia, Ormond, Louis, Yeung, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Allen H
• Application Number:
  US15/455,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20180013912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 358 115
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00042 Monitoring, i.e. observation H04N1/00029 - H04N1/00039 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00058 using a separate apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00076 locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00082 Adjusting or controlling interrupting an operation H04N1/00915; inhibiting an operation H04N1/00925
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00344 with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus monitoring H04N1/00002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00938 Software related arrangements, e.g. loading applications program loading in general G06F9/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32539 Detecting or indicating the status of the output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32587 Controller
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32765 Initiating a communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3214 of a date
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3215 of a time or duration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3276 of a customised additional information profile, e.g. a profile specific to a user ID

Abstract

A system and method for application reporting by a multifunction peripheral includes a document processing device having an intelligent controller controlling operations of the multifunction peripheral, including operation of a scanner engine and a print engine. A memory stores a plurality of user selectable applications for the controller. The controller executes at least one user selectable application selected from a library of available applications. The processor determines when one or more of the user selectable applications are launched. The processor outputs status data relative to monitored application launches to an associated server via a network interface.

Claims

1. A multifunction peripheral comprising:

a scanner engine operable for scanning of tangible documents;

a print engine operable for printing of electronic documents;

a document processing device controller including a processor configured to control device operations of the multifunction peripheral including operation of the scanner engine and the print engine;

a network interface; and

a memory configured to

store a plurality of user selectable applications for the controller associated with user modification of control of device operations via the controller,

store a plurality of identified electronic customization groups, each customization group including a plurality of electronic files, and wherein each customization group corresponds to a unique business type, and

store a plurality of device customization data sets, each data set corresponding to document processing in the multifunction peripheral;

wherein the processor is configured to generate indicia on the display identifying each of the plurality of customization groups by business type; and

wherein the processor is configured to receive user selection data received via the user input corresponding to a selected identified customization group selected from the indicia,

wherein the processor is further configured to generate, on the display, a customizations menu listing available customization from the selected identified customization group,

wherein the processor is further configured to generate, on the display, a document processing options menu including document processing options corresponding to a portion of the device customization data sets associated with the selected identified customization group,

wherein the processor is further configured to determine when one or more of the user selectable applications is launched, and

wherein the processor is further configured to output status data relative to monitored application launches to an associated server via the network interface.

2. The multifunction peripheral of claim 1 wherein the memory is further configured to store identification data corresponding to a unique identifier for the multifunction peripheral and wherein the processor is further configured to capture the status data inclusive of the identification data.

3. The multifunction peripheral of claim 2 wherein the processor is further configured to output the status data inclusive of temporal information relative to the application launches.

4. The multifunction peripheral of claim 3 wherein the multifunction peripheral includes a clock/calendar module and wherein the processor is further configured to capture the status data including time and date information from the clock/calendar module.

5. The multifunction peripheral of claim 4 wherein the unique identifier is comprised of a device serial number for the multifunction peripheral.

6. The multifunction peripheral of claim 5 wherein the network interface is further configured to establish a secure data channel with an associated administrative computer for communication of the status data.

7. The multifunction peripheral of claim 2 wherein the processor is further configured to output status data including device operation data resultant from monitored application launches.

8. A method comprising:

controlling, via a document processing device controller, operation of an associated multifunction peripheral, including operation of a scanner engine and a print engine of the multifunction peripheral, in accordance with at least one user selectable application selected from a library of available applications;

storing, in a memory, a plurality of user selectable applications for the controller associated with user modification of control of document processing device operations via the controller;

storing, in the memory, a plurality of identified electronic customization groups, each customization group including a plurality of electronic customization documents, and wherein each customization group corresponds to a unique business type;

storing, in the memory, a plurality of device customization data sets, each data set corresponding to document processing in the multifunction peripheral;

generating, via a processor, indicia on a display identifying each of the plurality of customization groups by business type;

receiving user selection data corresponding to a selected identified customization group selected from the indicia;

generating, on the display, a customizations menu listing available customizations from the selected identified customization group;

generating, on the display, a document processing options menu including document processing options corresponding to a portion of the device customization data construction sets associated with the selected identified customization group;

receiving user selection data corresponding to commencement of at least one of the document processing options including completing a print operation of a selected one of the available customization on a print engine of the multifunction peripheral;

determining, by the document processing device controller, when one or more of the user selectable applications is launched; and

outputting, by the document processing device controller status data relative to monitored application launches to an associated server via the network interface.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising storing, in the memory, identification data corresponding to a unique identifier for the multifunction peripheral and capturing, by the document processing device controller, the status data inclusive of the identification data.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising outputting the status data inclusive of temporal information relative to the application launches.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising capturing the status data including time and date information from a clock/calendar module.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the unique identifier is comprised of a device serial number for the multifunction peripheral.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising establishing a secure data channel with an associated administrative computer for communication of the status data.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising outputting status data including device operation data resultant from monitored application launches.