Image forming device having a transmission control and method of operating an image forming device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A printer comprising:
- a print engine;
a controller electrically coupled with the print engine; and
a transmission control borne by the printer and which is configured to selectively transmit at least one digital image having information regarding the printer and its operative state to a remote location.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An image forming device and method of operating an image forming device are disclosed, and which includes a transmission control which is configured to selectively transmit at least one digital image having information regarding the image forming device and its operative state to a remote location.
32 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A printer comprising:
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a print engine;
a controller electrically coupled with the print engine; and
a transmission control borne by the printer and which is configured to selectively transmit at least one digital image having information regarding the printer and its operative state to a remote location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A printer comprising:
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a printer chassis;
a plurality of components, including a print engine, borne by the chassis;
a plurality of sensors which are configured to sense the operative state of the components;
detection circuitry electrically coupled to the individual sensors, and which generates a status signal corresponding to the operative state of the components;
a memory which is electrically coupled to the detection circuitry, and which is configured to receive and store information regarding the status signal and configuration information of the printer;
a digital sender module electrically coupled with the memory and which is configured to derive at least one digital image for transmission to a remote location;
an input output circuit which is electrically coupled to the printer and in selective data communication with a network;
a user interface which is electrically coupled to the detection circuitry, and which includes at least one signaling indicator which is configured to generate a discernable status signal to an operator to indicate the operational states of the respective components; and
a transmission control which is configured to selectively transmit the at least one digital image to the remote location. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A printer comprising:
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a printer chassis having a plurality of components which are borne by the chassis;
a plurality of sensors borne by the printer chassis and which are configured to generate a plurality of sensor signals respectively indicating an operative state of the components of the printer;
detection circuitry borne by the printer chassis and which is electrically coupled to the respective plurality of sensors, and wherein the detection circuitry is configured to generate a plurality of status signals corresponding to the operative state of the respective components of the printer;
a memory borne by the printer chassis and which is electrically coupled to the detection circuitry, and which is configured to receive and store information regarding the status signals provided by the detection circuitry, and configuration information regarding an operative configuration of the printer;
a digital sender module electrically coupled with the memory and which is configured to selectively retrieve at least some of the status signal information and at least some of the configuration information from the memory, and to derive at least one digital image for transmission to a remote location;
an input output circuit borne by the printer chassis and which couples the printer in data communication with a network, the input output circuitry being electrically coupled to the memory and the digital sender module;
a user interface borne by the printer chassis and which is electrically coupled to the detection circuitry, and including at least one signaling indicator which is configured to generate a status indication to an operator to indicate the current operational condition of the components of the printer; and
a transmission control borne by the printer chassis and which is electrically coupled to the digital sender module, and which is configured to selectively transmit the at least one digital image to the remote location. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of operating a printer comprising:
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providing a plurality of components borne by a printer chassis and wherein the printer has a configuration;
sensing the operative states of the respective components;
generating status signals corresponding to the operative states of the respective components;
receiving and storing information regarding the status signals and configuration of the printer;
deriving at least one digital image from the status signals and configuration information for transmission to a location remote from the printer; and
transmitting the at least one digital image to the remote location, by way of a network, in response to a transmit request being received at the printer from a user.
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27. A method of operating a printer comprising:
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providing a plurality of printer components and which include a user interface, a memory and a transmission control;
providing an operator-discernable signal borne by the user interface and which alerts an operator to an operational condition of the respective components, and wherein the operational condition is stored as information in the memory;
activating the transmission control to transmit the information stored in the memory to a remote location;
providing a digital sender module which is electrically coupled with the memory and which, in response to the activation of the transmission control, derives a digital image from at least some of the information stored in the memory; and
sending the digital image by way of a network to the remote location.
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28. A printer comprising:
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a plurality of components borne by a printer chassis, and wherein the printer has a configuration;
means for providing a status signal corresponding to an operative state of the respective components;
means for providing an operator-discernable signal and which alerts an operator to the operative state of the respective components;
means for receiving and storing information regarding the status signal and configuration;
means for deriving a digital image which corresponds to at least some of the stored information for transmission to a remote location;
means for coupling the printer in data communication with a network; and
means for causing the transmission of the digital image to the remote location by way of the network.
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29. A computer readable media bearing computer programming that, when loaded into a computer, causes the computer to implement a method of operating a printer which has a plurality of components and a printer configuration, the method comprising:
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sensing the operative states of the respective components;
generating status signals corresponding to the operative states of the respective components;
receiving and storing information regarding the status signals and configuration of the printer;
deriving at least one digital image from the status signals and configuration information for transmission to a location remote from the printer; and
transmitting the at least one digital image to the remote location, by way of a network, in response to a transmit request being received at the printer from a user.
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Specification