Method and apparatus for providing data logging in a modular device

• US 20030163275A1
• Filed: 02/26/2002
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Farrell, Michael E., Slack, George B.
• Granted Patent: US 6,931,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/127
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5079 for maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/55 Self-diagnostics; Malfunction or lifetime display
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00109 Remote control of apparatus, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0733 in a data processing system embedded in an image processing device, e.g. printer, facsimile, scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0748 in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault remote testing G06F11/2294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0775 Content or structure details of the error report, e.g. specific table structure, specific error fields
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3476 Data logging G06F11/14, G06F11/2205 take precedence

Abstract

A modular device, such as an electrophotographic imaging machine, comprises an operation event log in respective modules of the device to record time-stamped events, e.g., errors, and a configuration log in a central controller to keep track of changing configurations due to swapping or removal of modules. A controller updates the configuration log each time a module is added to or removed from the device. Log information may be stored locally with the device or in a remote server accessible via a network to facilitate remote diagnostics. To assist in diagnostics, the disclosed method includes merging the configuration and events logs in a way to display log entries according to a selected configuration where errors in current modules are demarcated. The apparatus includes routines in the controller to effect retrieval, processing, and display of demarcated events according to a selected configuration.

Claims

1. In a multi-modular device capable of interchangeably receiving one or more modules having an event log indicative of operational events and an associated time stamp thereof, a method of providing an integrated log for a selected configuration comprising:

generating a configuration log for said modular device that includes entries indicating at least one of an identity, arrangement, and time of introduction or removal of modules relative to the device;

merging the event and configuration logs to create an integrated log;

delineating entries in the integrated log according to a selected configuration; and

presenting said delineated entries to uniquely identify data entries corresponding to the selected configuration.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein presenting the data entries includes providing the entries in readable format utilizing a log viewing application.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the presenting step includes demarcating selected entries in the integrated log according to a selected configuration.

4. The method according to claim 1, further including transmitting the integrated log to a remote server to assist in remote diagnostics.

5. In an electrophotographic imaging system that includes swappable modules, a method of providing an integrated event log comprising:

providing and maintaining a configuration log indicative of respective configuration changes in the imaging system,

providing respective error logs of swappable modules that record operational events and a time of occurrence of said operational events, and

based on contents of the configuration log and error logs, generating said integrated log in a way that demarcates operational events according to a selected configuration.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising providing remote display of said integrated log.

7. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising storing a representation of said configuration and error logs in a server remote from the imaging system and accessing said server to provide said integrated log.

8. In a modular device having interchangeable modules the include associated event logs indicative of operational events relative to the modules, a method of providing an integrated log of events according to a selected configuration comprising:

providing a configuration log indicative of changing configurations of the modular device,

merging the event and configuration logs to produce a combined log, segmenting entries in the combined log according to configuration information, and

presenting information of operational events according to a selected one of multiple configurations.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said configuration log includes entries indicative of an addition, removal, or repositioning of said modules, said configuration log being stored in a central controller of the device, and wherein compiling said configuration log includes storing a unique code upon each occurrence of said addition, removal, or repositioning of said modules within the device.

10. The method of claim 8 including time and date stamping of each of said unique codes.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein presenting the data entries associated with the given configuration includes rendering said integrated log into a readable form.

12. A reconfigureable modular device capable of interchangeably receiving one or more modules, said modular device comprising:

a controller that conveys data and control signals with said modules, said modules including a logging service that stores a first set of entries corresponding to service related events;

said controller including a routine that effects monitoring at least one of addition, deletion, and repositioning of the modules and generating a second set of entries in response to an addition, deletion, or repositioning of said modules; and

a log viewer that accesses said first and second sets of entries to output an integrated log displaying selected operational events according to a given configuration of said device.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the modular device comprises an electrophotographic imaging machine.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the image machine includes a plurality of modules, each of which including a service event monitor that monitors and transmits service related event codes to said logging service.

15. The device of claim 13 further including an I/O interface that enables conveyance of the first and second sets of entries to a server remote from said imaging machine whereby to facility remote diagnostics.