Method and apparatus for control lockout and transfer during service for systems controlled by multiple devices

• US 20060217992A1
• Filed: 03/23/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hanna, Stephen Dale
• Granted Patent: US 7,856,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00 Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00912 Arrangements for controlling a still picture apparatus or components thereof not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00925 Inhibiting an operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/91 Bar code or optical character reader with telephone

Abstract

A printer, fax machine, copier, scanner, or any other office device used by multiple users from multiple locations is provided with improved apparatus and/or software for locking out all incoming commands from reaching the device'"'"'s internal controller except for commands coming from a newly-designated primary controller used by the service technician. This lockout can be used with any type of office machine that has it'"'"'s own internal controller, so it applies equally to all types of office machines and systems generally used in today'"'"'s office environments.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a printer controller having a user input and which detects initiation of a service mode; and

a lockout control interface operatively communicating with said controller and responding to said controller detecting initiation of a service mode by disabling user input and enabling control of said controller under service mode control.

2. Apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said control interface notifies all users when service lockout mode has been initiated.

3. Apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said control interface notifies all users when service lockout mode has been terminated.

4. Apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein said control interface notifies all users when service lockout mode has been terminated.

5. Apparatus as described in any one of claims 1 through 4, wherein said control interface detects termination of service mode and responds by disabling control from said lockout control interface and enabling all user input requests to said device.

6. Apparatus as described in claim 5, wherein said control interface transfers primary control over said device'"'"'s operation to a service mode controller.

7. In a device having multiple user inputs, a service lockout method for disabling user inputs and for enabling only service inputs, comprising steps of:

detecting initiation of service mode; and

responsive thereto,

disabling all user inputs to said device and

enabling control of said device from a service interface.

8. A method as described in claim 7, further comprising a step of:

notifying all users when service lockout mode has been initiated.

9. A method as described in claim 7, further comprising a step of:

notifying all users when service lockout mode has been terminated.

10. A method as described in claim 8, further including a step of:

notifying all users when service lockout mode has been terminated.

11. A method as described in any one of claims 7 through 10, further comprising steps of:

detecting termination of service mode;

disabling control of said device from said service interface;

enabling all user input requests to said device.

12. A method as described in any one of claims 7 through 9, further comprising a step of:

transferring primary control over said device operation to a service controller.

13. A computer program product comprising a machine-readable medium having machine-executable program steps recorded thereon comprising:

machine-executable program code for detecting initiation of service mode for a monitored machine having service inputs;

machine-executable program code for disabling all other user inputs to said monitored machine in response to said detecting of initiation of service mode; and

machine-executable program code for enabling control of said monitored machine from a service interface.

14. A computer program product as described in claim 13, further comprising:

machine-executable program code for notifying all users of said monitored machine when said service mode has been initiated.

15. A computer program product as described in claim 13, further comprising:

machine-executable program code for notifying all users of said monitored machine when said service mode has been terminated.

16. A computer program product as described in claim 14, further comprising:

machine-executable program code for notifying all users of said monitored machine when said service mode has been terminated.

17. A computer program product as described in any one of claims 13 through 16, further comprising:

machine-executable program code for detecting termination of said service mode;

machine-executable program code responsive to said detecting of termination of said service mode for disabling control of said monitored machine from said service interface; and

machine-executable program code responsive to said disabling control of said monitored machine from said service interface for enabling all user input requests to said monitored machine.

18. A computer program product as described in any one of claims 13 through 14, further comprising:

machine-executable program code for transferring primary control over said monitored machine to a service mode controller.