Methods and systems for imaging device accounting data maintenance

• US 20060077433A1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lovat, David J., Zhang, Hanzhong
• Granted Patent: US 8,023,130 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• 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 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00464 using browsers, i.e. interfaces based on mark-up languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00503 Customising to a particular machine or model, machine function or application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems, methods and devices for maintaining imaging device (IDev) accounting data in the event that an imaging device'"'"'s primary accounting server becomes unavailable.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining imaging device (IDev) activity data in the event of a primary server failure, said method comprising:

a) establishing a primary accounting server (PAS) for maintaining a primary IDev activity log (PIAL);

b) establishing a lightweight accounting back-up server (LABS) on a device remote to said PAS for maintaining a temporary IDev activity log (TIAL) when said PAS is not available;

c) sending IDev activity data to said PAS when said PAS is available;

d) sending IDev activity data to said LABS when said PAS is not available;

e) sending said temporary IDev activity log data from said LABS to said PAS after a period of unavailability of said PAS; and

f) updating said primary IDev activity log with said temporary IDev activity log data after said period of unavailability.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein the availability of said PAS is determined by a send and acknowledge process.

3. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of LABSs that are independent devices, wherein said IDev comprises a list of LABSs accessible in a multiple redundant manner.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said period of inactivity of said PAS is terminated by a message from said PAS to said LABS wherein said TIAL data is requested.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said period of inactivity of said PAS is terminated by a message from said PAS to said IDev wherein said TIAL data is requested and wherein said IDev requests said TIAL data from said LABS and forwards said TIAL data to said PAS.

6. A system for maintaining imaging device (IDev) accounting data, said system comprising:

a) a primary accounting server (PAS), said PAS comprising;

i) a PAS sender for sending messages to an imaging device (IDev) and to a lightweight accounting back-up server (LABS);

ii) a PAS receiver for receiving messages from said IDev;

iii) an updater for updating a primary IDev activity log (PIAL).

b) an imaging device (IDev), said IDev comprising;

i) an IDev sender for sending messages;

ii) an IDev receiver for receiving messages from said Primary server and said LABS; and

c) at least one LABS in communication with said IDev, said LABS comprising;

i) a LABS receiver for receiving messages and data from said IDev and from said PAS; and

ii) a LABS sender for sending messages to said IDev and to said PAS;

d) wherein said IDev sends a record of its activity to said PAS when said PAS is available and said PAS maintains a primary IDev activity log (PIAL) when said PAS is available

e) wherein said IDev sends a record of its activity to said LABS when said PAS is not available and said LABs maintains a temporary IDev activity log (TIAL) when said PAS is not available; and

f) wherein said PAS updates said PIAL with said TIAL data after a period of unavailability.

7. A system as described in claim 6 wherein said LABS is an application running on a remote computing device in communication with said IDev and said PAS.

8. A system as described in claim 6 wherein said IDev further comprises a list of said at least one LABS.

9. A system as described in claim 6 wherein said at least one LABS comprises a plurality of LABS accessible in a sequential order thereby forming a multiple redundant back-up server system.

10. A system as described in claim 6 wherein PAS sends an update message to said IDev after a period of unavailability and, in response to said update message, said IDev renews sending a record of its activity to said PAS, requests said TIAL data from said LABS sends said TIAL data to said PAS.

11. A system as described in claim 6 wherein said PAS sends an update message to said LABS after a period of unavailability and, in response to said update message, said LABS sends said TIAL data to said PAS.

12. A system as described in claim 6 further comprising an accounting application for reporting said PIAL data to a user.

13. A system for maintaining imaging device (IDev) accounting data, said system comprising:

a) a plurality of networked client computing devices;

b) at least one lightweight accounting back-up server application running on a networked computing device and functioning as a lightweight accounting back-up server (LABS);

c) a networked primary accounting server (PAS); and

d) at least one imaging device (IDev);

e) wherein said IDev reports its activity to said PAS when said PAS is available and said PAS maintains a primary IDev activity log (PIAL);

f) wherein said IDev reports its activity to said at least one LABS when said PAS is not available; and

g) wherein said at least one LABS maintains a temporary IDev activity log (TIAL) when said IDev reports to said LABS;

h) wherein said LABS reports to said PAS after a period of unavailability and sends TIAL data to said PAS. And

i) wherein said PAS updates said PIAL with said TIAL data.

14. A system as described in claim 13 wherein said LABS reports to said IDev instead of said PAS after a period of unavailability, said LABS sends said TIAL data to said IDev and said IDev forwards said TIAL data to said PAS.

15. A system as described in claim 13 wherein said IDev further comprises a list of said at least one LABS, said list describing a hierarchical order in which said at least one LABS are accessed when a PAS becomes unavailable.

16. A system as described in claim 13 wherein said at least one LABS comprises a plurality of LABS accessible in a sequential order thereby forming a multiple redundant back-up server system.

17. A system as described in claim 13 wherein PAS sends an update message to said IDev after a period of unavailability and, in response to said update message, said IDev renews sending a record of its activity to said PAS, requests said TIAL data from said LABS sends said TIAL data to said PAS.

18. A system as described in claim 13 wherein said PAS sends an update message to said LABS after a period of unavailability and, in response to said update message, said LABS sends said TIAL data to said PAS.

19. A system as described in claim 13 further comprising an accounting application for reporting said PIAL data to a user.

20. A system as described in claim 13 wherein a user at said networked client computing devices may use said IDev and said system will maintain a log of said user'"'"'s activity.