Image forming device diagnostics using served applets

• US 20050286073A1
• Filed: 06/28/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Christopher, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 7,701,596 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/273 Tester hardware, i.e. output processing circuits G06F11/263 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00344 with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus monitoring H04N1/00002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus H04N2201/0013; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015
• 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

Abstract

An image forming device includes a web server, and serves applets to a communicatively coupled computer. The applets execute on the computer, and control one or more operations and/or monitor one or more conditions or sensors in the image forming device. An applet may provide detailed instructions to the computer user as a diagnostic program executes on the image forming device. A list of available applets may be served to the computer, and one or more applets served in response to a user'"'"'s selection from the list. A decision tree may be served, and one or more applets served as the user advances through the decision tree. Serving the diagnostic applets from the image forming device alleviates the need for a field repair technician to carry a large suite of diagnostic software to diagnose and repair a plurality of models, years, and configurations of image forming devices.

Claims

1. A method of diagnosing a image forming device having a web server, comprising:

accessing said image forming device web server via a web browser running on a computer communicatively coupled to said image forming device;

downloading a software module from said image forming device web server to said computer; and

executing said software module on said computer, said software module controlling at least one operation in said image forming device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said software module is further operative to monitor at least one condition in said image forming device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising diagnosing said computer by successively controlling and monitoring a plurality of operations in said image forming device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein accessing said image forming device web server via a web browser running on a computer communicatively coupled to said image forming device comprises providing a predetermined password to said image forming device web server.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said computer includes a processor running an operating system, and wherein said software module in an applet independent of said processor and said operating system.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said applet is a Java applet.

7. An image forming device, comprising:

a communication interface;

a processor controlling said communication interface and executing applications;

memory operatively coupled to said processor and storing at least one applet; and

a web server application serving said applet to a host computer connected to said image forming device via said communication interface, said applet controlling at least one operation in said image forming device.

8. The image forming device of claim 7 wherein said web server application requires a predetermined password from said host computer prior to serving said applet.

9. The image forming device of claim 7 further comprising a diagnostic application executing on said processor to diagnose a malfunction, and wherein said applet served to said host computer by said web server provides instructions to a user of said computer to repair said malfunction.

10. The image forming device of claim 7 further comprising a menu of diagnostic applets transferred to said host computer by said web server, and wherein one or more said applets are downloaded to said host computer in response to a user selection of said applets via said menu.

11. The image forming device of claim 10 wherein each said applet exercises and monitors a discrete operation within said image forming device and reports the results to the user via said host computer.

12. The image forming device of claim 7 further comprising a decision tree transferred to said host computer by said web server, and wherein a user performs successive diagnostics on said image forming device to advance in said decision tree.

13. The image forming device of claim 12 wherein at least one of said diagnostics is performed by an applet downloaded to said host computer via said communication interface and executed by said host computer.

14. A method of facilitating repair of an image forming device having a processor and a web server, comprising:

executing a diagnostic program on said processor; and

serving a software module to a computer communicatively coupled to said image forming device by said web server, said software module instructing a user of said computer to repair said image forming device in response to said diagnostic program, when executed on said computer.

15. A method of diagnosing a image forming device having a web server, comprising:

serving a list of available diagnostic software modules to a computer communicatively coupled to said image forming device by said web server;

accepting a user selection of one or more said software modules; and

serving a selected software module to said computer, said software module controlling at least one operation in said image forming device when executed on said computer.

16. A method of diagnosing a image forming device having a web server, comprising:

serving a diagnostic decision tree to a computer communicatively coupled to said image forming device by said web server;

accepting indications by a user of said computer as successive steps of said decision tree are completed; and

serving at least one software module to said computer in response to the user'"'"'s position in said decision tree, said software module controlling at least one operation in said image forming device when executed on said computer.