Methods and systems for imaging device accounting server redundancy

• US 20060077435A1
• 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 8,237,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• 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) accounting data in the event of a primary accounting server failure, said method comprising:

a) monitoring a network for IDev availability requests from a lightweight accounting back-up server (LABS) running as an application on a network computing device;

b) receiving an availability request at said LABS from an IDev whose primary accounting server (PAS) has become unavailable;

c) responding to said request with an availability confirmation;

d) receiving IDev activity data from said IDev; and

e) maintaining a temporary IDev activity log (TIAL) comprising said IDev activity data.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said LABS is not the primary function of said network computing device.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said availability request and said activity data are received in a single message from said IDev.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said IDev activity data comprises user account data associated with IDev function activity.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said IDev activity data comprises user account data associated with remote application activity accessed through said IDev.

6. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said IDev activity data comprises user account data, IDev function activity and remote application activity data for remote applications accessed through said IDev.

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

a) receiving a request for temporary IDev activity log (TIAL) data at a lightweight accounting back-up server (LABS) application running on a network computing device, wherein said LABS has stored TIAL data for an IDev during a period of unavailability of a primary accounting server (PAS); and

b) sending said TIAL data to a TIAL recipient.

8. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said LABS is not the primary function of said network computing device.

9. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said request is received from an IDev and said TIAL recipient is said IDev.

10. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said request is received from an IDev and said TIAL recipient is said PAS.

11. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said request is received from said PAS and said TIAL recipient is said PAS.

12. A system for maintaining imaging device (IDev) accounting data in the event of a primary accounting server failure, said system comprising:

a) a lightweight accounting back-up server (LABS) application capable of running on a network computing device, said LABS application comprising;

i) a monitor for monitoring a network for IDev availability requests;

ii) a request receiver for receiving an availability request from an IDev whose primary accounting server (PAS) has become unavailable;

iii) a sender for sending an availability confirmation to said availability request;

iv) a data receiver for receiving IDev activity data from said IDev; and

v) a logger for maintaining a temporary IDev activity log (TIAL) comprising said IDev activity data.

13. A system as described in claim 12 wherein said LABS is capable of running on a network computing device as a background application.

14. A system as described in claim 12 wherein said request receiver and said data receiver are integrated and may receive a single message from said IDev, said message comprising said availability request and said activity data.

15. A system as described in claim 12 wherein said IDev activity data comprises user account data associated with IDev function activity.

16. A system as described in claim 12 wherein said IDev activity data comprises user account data associated with remote application activity accessed through said IDev.

17. A system as described in claim 12 wherein said IDev activity data comprises user account data, IDev function activity and remote application activity data for remote applications accessed through said IDev.