Managing customized menus across multiple imaging devices

• US 20030088793A1
• Filed: 11/06/2001
• Published: 05/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Parry, Travis J.
• Application Number:
  US10/011,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20030088793A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/202
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/085 Retrieval of network configuration; Tracking network configuration history
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0879 Manual configuration through operator
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00344 with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus monitoring H04N1/00002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00416 Multi-level menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00432 using tabs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00464 using browsers, i.e. interfaces based on mark-up languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00474 outputting a plurality of functional options, e.g. scan, copy or print
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00501 Tailoring a user interface [UI] to specific requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0091 Digital copier; digital 'photocopier' H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

Apparatus and methods that allow for the acquisition of customized imaging device menus from source imaging devices and configuration of versions of the customized imaging menus across one or more imaging devices or classes of imaging devices in a networked imaging device system. The customized imaging device menus can be configured for one or more classes of users, administrators, location, or specialized purposes. This allows an administrator to quickly and easily customize the interface of one or more imaging devices on a network to fit users needs, device purpose, and/or business expectations.

Claims

1. An imaging device system comprising:

a network;

a plurality of imaging devices coupled to the network; and

a management facility coupled to the network, wherein the management facility is adapted to acquire a menu configuration from one or more source imaging devices and to configure the menu configuration to one or more selected imaging devices of the plurality of imaging devices.

2. The imaging device system of claim 1, wherein the configured menu configuration contains situation specific sub-menus.

3. The imaging device system of claim 1, wherein the configured menu configuration has characteristics selected from the group consisting of menu characteristics specific to a user, menu characteristics specific to a class of users, menu characteristics specific to an imaging device, and menu characteristics specific to a class of imaging devices.

4. The imaging device system of claim 1, wherein the configured menu configuration requires use of a password, a username and password, or a personal identification number (PIN) to access the menu.

5. The imaging device system of claim 1, wherein the configured menu configuration is a baseline menu that is common to a class of imaging devices or to all imaging devices on the network.

6. The imaging device system of claim 1, wherein the configured menu configuration is specific to an intended utilization of the one or more selected imaging devices.

7. The imaging device system of claim 1, wherein the configured menu configuration is communicated to the selected imaging devices in a manner selected from the group consisting of being transferred from the management facility, being transferred from a source imaging device, and being transferred from a network site.

8. The imaging device system of claim 1, wherein the management facility selects the one or more imaging devices from a discovered list of imaging devices in the imaging device system.

9. The imaging device system of claim 1, wherein the management facility is an imaging device with an embedded webserver.

10. A method of configuring a menu configuration in an imaging device system comprising:

obtaining a menu configuration from one or more source imaging devices; and

setting the menu configuration of one or more selected imaging devices of the imaging device system.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein setting the menu configuration further comprises setting the menu configuration to have menu characteristics selected from the group consisting of menu characteristics specific to a user, menu characteristics specific to a class of users, menu characteristics specific to an imaging device, and menu characteristics specific to a class of imaging devices.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein setting the menu configuration further comprises setting the menu configuration with a management facility, where the management facility is selected from the group consisting of a management program, a driver, and an embedded management facility of an imaging device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein setting the menu configuration further comprises setting the menu configuration with a management facility, where the management facility discovers the one or more imaging devices of the imaging device system.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein setting the menu configuration further comprises setting the menu configuration by communicating it to the one or more selected imaging devices from a device selected from the group consisting of a management facility, a source imaging device, and a network site.

15. A computer-usable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method comprising:

obtaining a menu configuration from one or more source imaging devices; and

setting the menu configuration of one or more selected imaging devices of the imaging device system.

16. The computer-usable medium of claim 15, wherein setting the menu configuration further comprises setting the menu configuration with a management facility, where the management facility is selected from the group consisting of a management program, a driver, and an embedded management facility of an imaging device.

17. An imaging device comprising:

a network interface; and

an embedded management facility coupled to the network interface, wherein the management facility is adapted to acquire a menu configuration from one or more source imaging devices and to configure the menu configuration to one or more selected imaging devices of an imaging device system.

18. The imaging device of claim 17, wherein the menu configuration acquired from one or more source imaging devices is acquired from the imaging device itself.

19. The imaging device of claim 17, wherein the configured menu configuration has characteristics selected from the group consisting of menu characteristics specific to a user, menu characteristics specific to a class of users, menu characteristics specific to an imaging device, and menu characteristics specific to a class of imaging devices.

20. The imaging device of claim 17, wherein the configured menu configuration is communicated to the selected imaging devices in a manner selected from the group consisting of being transferred from the management facility, being transferred from a source imaging device, and being transferred from a network site.