Diagnosis of programmable modules

• US 20050258963A1
• Filed: 05/20/2004
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Bell, Scott J., Rommelmann, Heiko, Rodriguez, Alberto, Phipps, William H., Boucher, Ronald P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,158,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2822 of microwave or radiofrequency circuits of attenuation, gain, e.g. using network analyzers G01R27/28
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0863 provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. an electronic memory
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1878 Electronically readable memory
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0697 being an electronically readable memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer

Abstract

An electronic diagnostic device for testing electronic monitoring tags for devices such as replaceable modules for a printing apparatus includes a tag reader with a reader wireless communication element. The tag reader is adapted to read tag diagnostic information from an electronic monitoring tag. The electronic diagnostic device further includes a data processor in communication with the tag reader. The data processor is adapted to determine from the tag diagnostic data whether the electronic monitoring tag is operating within predetermined parameters, to identify one of a predetermined set of error categories if the electronic monitoring tag is operating outside the predetermined parameters, and to generate error category information. The electronic diagnostic device further includes a results communication element adapted to communicate the error category information generated by the data processor. The diagnostic device may also communicate correction information to the electronic monitoring tag.

Claims

1. An electronic diagnostic device for testing electronic monitoring tags associated with replaceable modules for a printing apparatus, the diagnostic device comprising:

a tag reader comprising a reader wireless communication element;

wherein the tag reader is adapted to read tag diagnostic information from a first electronic monitoring tag associated with a replaceable module for a printing apparatus using the reader wireless communication element;

a data processor in communication with the tag reader;

wherein the data processor is adapted to determine from the tag diagnostic data whether the first electronic monitoring tag is operating within predetermined parameters;

wherein the data processor contains a predetermined set of error categories;

wherein the data processor is additionally adapted to identify one of the error categories if the first electronic monitoring tag is operating outside the predetermined parameters, and to generate error category information; and

a results communication element in communication with the data processor adapted to communicate the error category information generated by the data processor.

2. The electronic diagnostic device of claim 1, wherein the results communication element is a results display for displaying the error category information to a user.

3. The electronic diagnostic device of claim 2, wherein the results display is a graphical user interface.

4. The electronic diagnostic device of claim 1, wherein:

the results communication element is adapted to display one of a predetermined set of error messages; and

each of the error messages corresponds to one of the error categories.

5. The electronic diagnostic device of claim 1, wherein:

the data processor is additionally adapted to prepare corrective tag information responsive to the error category information; and

the results communication element is a tag writer adapted to program the first electronic monitoring tag with the corrective tag information generated by the data processor in response to the error category information.

6. An electronic diagnostic device comprising:

a tag reader;

wherein the tag reader is adapted to read tag diagnostic information from a first electronic monitoring tag associated with a replaceable module of a printing apparatus;

a data processor in communication with the tag reader;

wherein the data processor is adapted to analyze the tag diagnostic data to produce tag diagnosis information;

a results communication element in communication with the data processor for communicating the tag diagnosis information.

7. The electronic diagnostic device of claim 6, wherein:

the data processor is adapted to determine from the tag diagnostic data whether the first electronic monitoring tag is within predetermined parameters;

the data processor is additionally adapted to identify an error category if the first electronic monitoring tag is not within predetermined parameters.

8. The electronic diagnostic device of claim 7, wherein:

the data processor is additionally adapted to prepare corrective tag information responsive to the error category information; and

the results communication element is a tag writer adapted to program the first electronic monitoring tag with the corrective tag information generated by the data processor in response to the error category information.

9. The electronic diagnostic device of claim 7, wherein the communication element is a display adapted to display the identified error category to a human user.

10. The electronic diagnostic device of claim 6, wherein the results communication element is a results display for displaying information to a human user.

11. The electronic diagnostic device of claim 10, wherein the results display is a light.

12. The electronic diagnostic device of claim 10, wherein the results display is an audio signal generator.

13. The electronic diagnostic device of claim 10, wherein the results display is a graphical user interface.

14. The electronic diagnostic device of claim 6, wherein the tag reader is a wireless tag reader.

15. The electronic diagnostic device of claim 14, wherein the wireless tag reader is a radio frequency tag reader.

16. A method of testing electronic monitoring tags associated with replaceable modules of printing apparatus, the method comprising:

bringing a portable electronic reader device into proximity with a first electronic tag associated with a replaceable module of a printing apparatus;

causing the portable electronic tag reader to read tag diagnostic data from the first electronic tag;

electronically determining from the tag diagnostic data whether the first electronic tag is operating within predetermined operating parameters;

transmitting an error signal if the first electronic tag is not operating within the predetermined operating parameters.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein causing the portable electronic tag reader to read the tag diagnostic data from the first electronic tag comprises causing the tag reader to read all of the data stored in the first electronic tag.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein causing the portable electronic tag reader to read the tag diagnostic data from the first electronic tag comprises causing the tag reader to receive the tag diagnostic data over a wireless communication link between the first electronic tag and the tag reader.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein causing the tag reader to receive the tag diagnostic data over a wireless communication link comprises causing the tag reader to receive the tag diagnostic data over a radio frequency communication link between the first electronic tag and the tag reader.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein causing the portable electronic tag reader to read tag diagnostic data from the first electronic tag comprises causing the tag reader to receive the tag diagnostic data over a wired communication link between the first electronic tag and the tag reader.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein electronically determining from the tag diagnostic data whether the first electronic tag is operating within predetermined operating parameters comprises performing at least one communication test to confirm that the first electronic tag is communicating with the tag reader.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein electronically determining from the tag diagnostic data whether the first electronic tag is operating within predetermined operating parameters comprises performing at least one authentication test to verify the identity of the electronic tag.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein electronically determining from the tag diagnostic data whether the first electronic tag is operating within predetermined operating parameters comprises performing at least one data integrity test to confirm that data stored in the first electronic tag is not corrupted.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein electronically determining from the tag diagnostic data whether the first electronic tag is operating within predetermined operating parameters comprises:

performing at least one communication test to confirm that the first electronic tag is communicating with the tag reader;

performing at least one authentication test to verify the identity of the electronic tag; and

performing at least one data integrity test to confirm that data stored in the first electronic tag is not corrupted.

25. The method of claim 24, additionally comprising:

performing at least one compatibility test to confirm that the electronic tag is compatible with the printing apparatus with which it is associated.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first electronic tag is associated with replaceable module installed in a first printing apparatus, and wherein performing at least one compatibility test comprises:

electronically reading configuration information from the first electronic tag;

identifying printer model information identifying the first printing apparatus;

determining whether the configuration information matches predetermined permitted configurations associated with the first printing apparatus.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the first electronic tag is associated with replaceable module installed in a first printing apparatus, and wherein performing at least one compatibility test comprises:

electronically reading configuration information from the first electronic tag;

Identifying printer model information identifying the first printing apparatus;

determining whether the printer model information matches predetermined permitted printer models associated with the configuration.

28. The method of claim 16, wherein electronically determining from the tag diagnostic information whether the first electronic tag is operating within predetermined operating parameters comprises:

performing on the read tag diagnostic data at least one generic test applicable to diagnostic information from electronic tags of any of a predetermined plurality of tag categories;

determining from the read tag diagnostic data to which one of a plurality of tag categories the first electronic tag belongs; and

performing a diagnostic test peculiar to the tag category to which the first electronic tag is determined to belong.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein causing the portable electronic tag reader to read the tag diagnostic information from the first electronic tag comprises causing the tag reader to read all of the data stored in the first electronic tag.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein:

determining the tag which one of the plurality of tag categories the first electronic tag belongs comprises determining whether the first electronic tag belongs to a first tag category or to a second tag category; and

performing the diagnostic test peculiar to the tag category to which the first electronic tag is determined to belong comprises performing a first diagnostic test if the tag belongs to the first tag category, and performing a second diagnostic test if the tag belongs to the second tag category.