Method for building a peripheral information database
First Claim
1. A method for building an information database for a plurality of network peripherals, comprising the steps of:
- repeatedly querying the plurality of network peripherals for output count data;
obtaining peripheral cost data; and
, building a peripheral information database for each of the plurality of peripherals using said output count data and said cost data, the peripheral information database comprising at least an operating cost for the peripheral.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A novel method for building a computer peripheral information database for a plurality of peripherals operably connected to a network for sharing between a plurality of users provides a valuable tool for network management and administration. A preferred embodiment of the method is for use with networked printers. Configuration data for the printers is input by at least one user, and printer usage data is obtained by repeated queries over the network to the printers. The information database will contain printer duty cycle and cost data for each of the printers.
60 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for building an information database for a plurality of network peripherals, comprising the steps of:
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repeatedly querying the plurality of network peripherals for output count data;
obtaining peripheral cost data; and
,building a peripheral information database for each of the plurality of peripherals using said output count data and said cost data, the peripheral information database comprising at least an operating cost for the peripheral. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for building a printer information database for a plurality of printers connected to a communications network, the method utilizing a central computer connected to the communications network, the method comprising the steps of:
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repeatedly querying the plurality of printers over the network from the central computer for printer page count data;
accepting printer cost data input from at least a user over the network to the central computer; and
,building the printer information database with the central computer using said printer page count data and said printer cost data, the printer information database comprising at least a printer operating cost on a cost per printed page basis. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21)
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17. A method for building a printer information database for a plurality of printers connected to a communications network, the plurality of printers for sharing among a plurality of users, the method utilizing a central computer connected to the communications network, the method comprising the steps of:
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obtaining printer configuration data with the central computer over the network, said printer configuration data comprising at least;
printer fixed cost data comprising one of either a printer depreciation cost or a printer lease cost;
printer variable cost data comprising printer supply item costs;
printer recommended duty cycle data;
printer power consumption data;
repeatedly querying the plurality of printers from the central computer for printer usage data, said printer usage data comprising at least;
page count data;
print job data comprising at least print job wait time;
power consumption status;
current time value; and
,building the printer information database with said central computer using said printer configuration data and said printer usage data for each of the plurality of printers, said printer information database comprising at least;
a printer operating cost for each printer calculated by summing said fixed cost data with said variable cost data and dividing by total pages printed;
a printer duty cycle ratio calculated by dividing actual pages printed by said recommended duty cycle.
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19. A computer program product for building a printer information database for a plurality of printers connected to a communications network, the computer program comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium that when executed causes a central computer connected to the communications network to:
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obtain printer cost data and printer recommended duty cycle data;
repeatedly query each of the plurality of printers over the network at a desired frequency for at least a page count; and
build the printer information database using said page count and said printer cost data, said printer information database comprising at least average printed page cost for each of the plurality of printers and a printer duty cycle ratio for each of the plurality of printers.
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22. A computer program product for building a printer information database for a plurality of printers connected to a communications network, the plurality of printers for sharing by a plurality of users, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium that when executed causes a central computer connected to the communications network to:
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obtain printer configuration data over the data network, said printer configuration data comprising at least;
printer fixed cost data comprising one of either printer depreciation cost or printer lease cost;
printer variable cost data comprising printer supply item costs;
printer recommended duty cycle value;
printer power consumption data;
designate a first portion of the plurality of printers as high use;
designate a second portion of the printers as low use;
repeatedly query said high use printers at a first frequency for printer usage data, and repeatedly query said low use printers at a second frequency for printer usage data, said first frequency greater than said second frequency, said printer usage data comprising at least;
page count data;
print job data comprising at least print job wait time;
power consumption status;
current time value;
build the printer information database using said printer configuration data and said printer usage data for each of the plurality of printers, said printer information data base comprising at least;
a printer operating cost for each printer calculated by summing said fixed cost data with said variable cost data and dividing by total pages printed;
a printer duty cycle ratio calculated by dividing actual pages printed by said recommended duty cycle.
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Specification