Document processing system including multi-device compatible interface and related methods

• US 20030227643A1
• Filed: 03/06/2003
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pharos Systems International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Corporation of The State of Delaware, Pharos Systems International, Inc.
• Inventors: Shaw, Geoff, Reddy, Paul James, Pickhardt, Kevin, Hoyt, Berwyn
• Granted Patent: US 7,366,799 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/90 Buffering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A document processing system may include a document processing device (e.g., a copier), a host (e.g., a computer server), and a multi-device compatible interface for enabling operation of the host and the document processing device from among a plurality of different possible document processing devices. That is, the multi-device compatible interface may determine a set of signals to use with the document processing device upon being connected therewith, and thereafter use the determined set of signals. Accordingly, the multi-device compatible interface may advantageously be used with numerous types of document processing devices despite the differences in their various protocols, connector types, etc.

Claims

1. A document processing system comprising:

a document processing device;

a host; and

a multi-device compatible interface for enabling operation of said host and said document processing device from among a plurality of different possible document processing devices, said multi-device compatible interface for determining a set of signals to use with said document processing device upon being connected therewith, and thereafter using the determined set of signals.

2. The document processing system of claim 1 further comprising an adapter for connecting said multi-compatible interface device to said document processing device, said adapter comprising an identification circuit for identifying the set of signals to be used with said document processing device upon being connected to said multi-device compatible interface.

3. The document processing system of claim 1 wherein said multi-device compatible interface determines the set of signals to use with said document processing device based upon a protocol used by said document processing device.

4. The document processing system of claim 1 wherein said multi-device compatible interface determines the set of signals to use with said document processing device based upon signal levels used by said document processing device.

5. The document processing system of claim 4 wherein said multi-device compatible interface determines the set of signals to use with said document processing device by comparing the signal levels with a plurality of signal level patterns.

6. The document processing system of claim 1 wherein said document processing device comprises a communications port, wherein said multi-device compatible interface is connected to said communications port, and wherein said multi-device compatible interface determines the set of signals to use with said document processing device based upon a configuration of said communications port.

7. The document processing system of claim 1 wherein said multi-device compatible interface compares at least one signal generated by said document processing device with at least one threshold to detect a fault condition of said document processing device based thereon.

8. The document processing system of claim 1 wherein said multi-device compatible interface generates job accounting data based upon jobs performed by said document processing device.

9. The document processing system of claim 8 wherein the job accounting data comprises at least one of a number of pages processed, page sorting, paper size, stapling, binding, double-sided processing, and color processing.

10. The document processing system of claim 8 further comprising a personnel assisted network (PAN) device for collecting the job accounting data from said multi-device compatible interface.

11. The document processing system of claim 1 wherein said multi-device communication interface generates simple network management protocol (SNMP) data for said host.

12. The document processing system of claim 1 wherein said multi-device compatible interface comprises a wired network port and a wireless network port for communications with said host;

and wherein said multi-device compatible interface determines which of said wired and wireless network ports is available for communicating with said host and uses said available port thereafter.

13. The document processing system of claim 1 wherein said document processing device performs at least one of printing and copying.

14. A multi-device compatible interface for enabling operation of a host and a document processing device from among a plurality of different possible document processing devices, the multi-device compatible interface comprising:

an interface connector to be connected to the document processing device; and

a microprocessor connected to said interface connector for determining a set of signals to use with said document processing device upon being connected therewith, and thereafter using the determined set of signals.

15. The multi-device compatible interface of claim 14 wherein said interface connector is to be connected to the document processing device with an adapter comprising an identification circuit for identifying the set of signals to be used with said document processing device upon being connected to said multi-device compatible interface.

16. The multi-device compatible interface of claim 14 wherein said microprocessor determines the set of signals to use with the document processing device based upon a protocol used by said document processing device.

17. The multi-device compatible interface of claim 14 wherein said microprocessor determines the set of signals to use with said document processing device based upon signal levels used by said document processing device.

18. The multi-device compatible interface of claim 17 wherein said microprocessor determines the set of signals to use with said document processing device by comparing the signal levels with a plurality of signal level patterns.

19. The multi-device compatible interface of claim 14 wherein said document processing device comprises a communications port, wherein said interface connector is connected to said communications port, and wherein said microprocessor determines the set of signals to use with said document processing device based upon a configuration of said communications port.

20. The multi-device compatible interface of claim 14 wherein said microprocessor compares at least one signal generated by said document processing device with at least one threshold to detect a fault condition of said document processing device based thereon.

21. The multi-device compatible interface of claim 14 wherein said microprocessor generates job accounting data based upon jobs performed by the document processing device.

22. The multi-device compatible interface of claim 21 wherein the job accounting data comprises at least one of a number of pages processed, page sorting, paper size, stapling, binding, double-sided processing, and color processing.

23. The multi-device compatible interface of claim 14 wherein said microprocessor generates simple network management protocol (SNMP) data for the host.

24. The multi-device compatible interface of claim 14 further comprising a wired network port and a wireless network port both connected to said microprocessor and for communications with said host;

and wherein said microprocessor determines which of said wired and wireless network ports is available for communicating with said host and uses said available port thereafter.

25. A method for enabling operation of a host and a document processing device from among a plurality of different possible document processing devices comprising:

connecting a multi-device compatible interface between the host and the document processing device;

determining a set of signals to use with the document processing device using the multi-device compatible interface upon connection with the document processing device; and

using the determined set of signals for operation of the host and document processing device thereafter.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein connecting comprises connecting the multi-compatible interface device to the document processing device with an adapter comprising an identification circuit;

and wherein determining comprises identifying the set of signals to be used with the document processing device based upon the identification circuit.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein determining comprises determining the set of signals to use with the document processing device based upon a protocol used by the document processing device.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein determining comprises determining the set of signals to use with the document processing device based upon signal levels used by the document processing device.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the determining comprises determining the set of signals to use with the document processing device by comparing the signal levels with a plurality of signal level patterns.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein the document processing device comprises a communications port;

wherein connecting comprises connecting the multi-device compatible interface to the communications port; and

wherein determining comprises determining the set of signals to use with the document processing device based upon a configuration of the communications port.

31. The method of claim 25 further comprising using the multi-device compatible interface to compare at least one signal generated by the document processing device with at least one threshold to detect a fault condition of the document processing device based thereon.

32. The method of claim 25 further comprising using the multi-device compatible interface to generate job accounting data based upon jobs performed by the document processing device.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the job accounting data comprises at least one of a number of pages processed, page sorting, paper size, stapling, binding, double-sided processing, and color processing.

34. The method of claim 32 further comprising using a personnel assisted network (PAN) device for collecting the job accounting data from the multi-device compatible interface.

35. The method of claim 25 further comprising using the multi-device communication interface to generate simple network management protocol (SNMP) data for the host.

36. The method of claim 25 wherein the multi-device compatible interface comprises a wired network port and a wireless network port for communications with the host;

and wherein the multi-device compatible interface determines which of the wired and wireless network ports is available for communicating with the host and uses the available port thereafter.