Printing device accounting data push systems and methods

• US 20060282352A1
• Filed: 05/02/2005
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Legan, James
• Application Number:
  US11/119,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20060282352A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00

Abstract

Method and system embodiments push accounting data from a printing device to a database. The method/system first accumulates accounting data (printing volume data) in the printing device and then initiates a process of sending (pushing) the accounting data to a database operated by a first entity over a network. The method/system can then verify that the accounting data was properly received by the accounting database, and report the sending of the accounting data to a first entity responsible for the accounting database or to a second, different entity.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

accumulating accounting data in a printing device;

initiating, by said printing device, a process of sending said accounting data to a database over a network;

verifying that said accounting data was properly received by said accounting database; and

if said accounting data was properly received by said accounting database, deleting said accounting data from memory of said printing device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising creating an error report if said accounting data was not properly received by said accounting database.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said error report is sent to a different entity than said accounting database.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising resending said accounting data if said accounting data was not properly received by said accounting database.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said sending of said accounting data is performed at a frequency determined by an application program interface of said printing device.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting limited portions of said accounting data to send to said accounting database as determined by an application program interface of said printing device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said accounting data comprises printing volume data.

8. A method comprising:

accumulating accounting data in a printing device;

initiating, by said printing device, a process of sending said accounting data to a database operated by a first entity over a network;

verifying that said accounting data was properly received by said accounting database;

if said accounting data was properly received by said accounting database, deleting said accounting data from memory of said printing device; and

reporting said sending of said accounting data to a second entity.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising creating an error report if said accounting data was not properly received by said accounting database.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said error report is sent to a different entity than said first entity.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising resending said accounting data if said accounting data was not properly received by said accounting database.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein said sending of said accounting data is performed at a frequency determined by an application program interface of said printing device.

13. The method according to claim 8, further comprising selecting limited portions of said accounting data to send to said accounting database as determined by an application program interface of said printing device.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein said accounting data comprises printing volume data.

15. A printing apparatus comprising:

a printing engine;

a counter operatively connected to said printing engine, wherein said counter is adapted to accumulate accounting data comprising printing volume data;

an input/output device operatively connected to said counter, wherein said input/output device is adapted to initiate a process of sending said accounting data to a database over a network;

a comparator operatively connected to said input/output device, wherein said comparator is adapted to verify that said accounting data was properly received by said accounting database; and

a processor operatively connected to said counter, said input/output device, and said comparator, wherein if said accounting data was properly received by said accounting database, said processor is adapted to delete said accounting data from counter.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said processor is adapted to create an error report if said accounting data was not properly received by said accounting database.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said input/output device is adapted to send said error report to a different entity than said accounting database.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising resending said accounting data if said accounting data was not properly received by said accounting database.

19. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said sending of said accounting data is performed at a frequency determined by said input/output device.

20. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said input/output device is further adapted to select limited portions of said accounting data to send to said accounting database.