Automatic device detection and configuration in a network-aware print fulfillment engine

• US 20080259819A1
• Filed: 03/06/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DNP Imagingcomm America Corporation (Dai Nippon Printing Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: DNP Photo Imaging America
• Inventors: Adams, Harold S., Blankenship, Harold, Gibson, James H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,873,425 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00143 Ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00185 Image output for details of particular output arrangements see the relevant sub-class, e.g. B41J, G03B, G09G, G11B

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for automatically detecting the topology of output devices present in a network, and for automatically configuring those output devices for outputting a specific media type. One or more network devices are present in a computer network environment configured for processing orders for physical and/or electronic photographic prints. Such network devices may have one or more output devices attached thereto for fulfilling consumer orders for photographic prints. In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the system and method described herein query the network devices to determine the numbers and characteristics of output devices that are attached to and active on each network device, update a listing of such available output devices on an administrative management unit attached to the network, and configure each such output device for outputting specific media types.

Claims

1. A method of detecting and configuring one or more output devices on a network, comprising:

prompting a first network device attached to said network to count a first number of output devices attached to said first network device so as to create a first output device count, said first number of output devices having a first available media output profile;

transmitting said first output device count to a data repository attached to said network;

prompting a second network device attached to said network to count a second number of output devices attached to said second network device so as to create a second output device count, said second number of output devices having a second available media output profile;

transmitting said second output device count to said data repository;

combining said first and second output device counts to create a network output device count and storing said network output device count in said data repository; and

creating a network media output profile by combining said first and second available media output profiles.

2. The method of claim 1, said network further comprising photographic order processing software comprising computer executable code configured for management of orders for photographic prints, said method further comprising:

creating a library of output device types available to fulfill orders processed by said photographic order processing software;

wherein said steps of prompting said first and second network devices further comprise counting a number of output devices attached to each of said first and second network devices in each type of output device in said library.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first available media output profile comprises a listing of media output sizes capable of being rendered as output from said first number of output devices.

5. The method of claim 1, said network further comprising photographic order processing software comprising computer executable code configured for management of orders for photographic prints, wherein said method is initiated upon startup of said computer executable code.

6. The method of claim 1, said network further comprising photographic order processing software comprising computer executable code configured for management of orders for photographic prints, wherein said method is initiated upon instruction by a user transmitted to said photographic order processing software.

7. The method of claim 1, said network further comprising photographic order processing software comprising computer executable code configured for management of orders for photographic prints, wherein said method is initiated periodically at a frequency determined by a user-designated frequency input to said photographic order processing software.

4. The method of claim 4, wherein said network media output profile comprises a listing of available media output sizes available for fulfillment of orders of photographic prints.

8. A system for detecting and configuring one or more output devices on a network, comprising:

a first network device attached to said network and at least one first output device attached to said first network device, said network device having computer executable code configured to count a first number of output devices attached to said first network device so as to create a first output device count, and said first number of output devices having a first available media output profile;

a second network device attached to said network and at least one second output device attached to said second network device, said second network device having computer executable code configured to count a second number of output devices attached to said second network device so as to create a second output device count, and said second number of output devices having a second available media output profile;

a data repository attached to said network and configured to receive said first output device count from said first network device and said second output device count from said second network device; and

a management unit attached to said network having computer executable code configured to combine said first and second output device counts to create a network output device count and to store said network output device count in said data repository, and to create a network media output profile by combining said first and second available media output profiles.

9. The system of claim 8, said data repository further comprising a library of output device types available to fulfill orders for photographic prints processed by said management unit, wherein said computer executable code of said first and second network devices is further configured to count a number of output devices attached to each of said first and second network devices in each type of output device in said library.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said first available media output profile comprises a listing of media output sizes capable of being rendered as output from said first number of output devices.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said network media output profile comprises a listing of available media output sizes available for fulfillment of orders of photographic prints.

12. The system of claim 8, said network further comprising photographic order processing software comprising computer executable code configured for management of orders for photographic prints, wherein said computer executable code of said management unit is further configured to instruct said first and second network devices to count said first and second numbers of output devices upon startup of said photographic order processing software.

13. The system of claim 8, said network further comprising photographic order processing software comprising computer executable code configured for management of orders for photographic prints, wherein said computer executable code of said management unit is further configured to instruct said first and second network devices to count said first and second numbers of output devices upon instruction by a user transmitted to said photographic order processing software.

14. The system of claim 8, said network further comprising photographic order processing software comprising computer executable code configured for management of orders for photographic prints, wherein said computer executable code of said management unit is further configured to periodically instruct said first and second network devices to count said first and second numbers of output devices at a frequency determined by a user-designated frequency input to said photographic order processing software.