METHOD AND SYTEM FOR REMOTE MANAGEMENT OF PRINT DEVICES

• US 20090066994A1
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Kumar, Krishna, Pothos, Kirk V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,570,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1222 Increasing security of the print job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1238 Secure printing, e.g. user identification, user rights for device usage, unallowed content, blanking portions or fields of a page, releasing held jobs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls

Abstract

A method of controlling a print device using an instruction corresponding to a command received from a remote location. A second server may transmit a query directed to a first server. The second server may be prevented from receiving unauthorized communication from the first server by a firewall. If the first server has a relevant command available, the second server may receive a response to the query. The response may include the relevant command. The second server may determine a print device for which the command is relevant. An instruction corresponding to the relevant command may be sent from the second server to the print device. Communication between the print device and the second server may not be restricted by the firewall. The printing device may implement the instruction. If the first server does not have a relevant command available, the transmitting may automatically repeat until the first server has a relevant command available.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a print device using an instruction corresponding to a command received from a remote location, comprising:

transmitting, by a second server, a query directed to a first server, wherein the second server is prevented from receiving unauthorized communication from the first server by a firewall;

if the first server has a relevant command available;

receiving, by the second server, a response to the query, wherein the response includes the relevant command,

determining, by the second server, a print device for which the command is relevant,

sending, from the second server to the print device, an instruction corresponding to the relevant command, wherein communication between the print device and the second server is not restricted by the firewall, and

implementing, by the print device, the instruction; and

if the first server does not have a relevant command available, automatically repeating the transmitting until the first server has a relevant command available.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

a plurality of print devices are in communication with the second server without restriction by the firewall,

the determining comprises determining which of the plurality of print devices are relevant to the command, and

the sending comprises sending the instruction corresponding to the command to each of the relevant print devices.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

before the sending, determining whether the instruction satisfies a schema; and

only sending the instruction if the instruction satisfies the schema.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

ensuring, by the second server, that the instruction satisfies a protocol for communication with the print device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the instruction corresponding to the relevant command, when executed by the print device, will cause the print device to perform at least one of the following actions:

change a setting on the printing device;

reboot the printing device;

upgrade firmware in the printing device;

retrieve consumable level information from the printing device;

retrieve print meter information from the printing device;

troubleshoot the printing device; and

perform a test print on the printing device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the command further includes a second instruction to be implemented by the second server, and the method comprises implementing, by the second server, the second instruction so that a setting is changed on the second server.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the command further includes a second instruction to be implemented by the second server, and the method further comprises:

determining, by the second server, whether the command satisfies a schema; and

if the command satisfies the schema, executing, by the second server, the command on the second server.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the command, when executed by the second server, will cause the second server to perform at least one of the following actions:

modify a discovery schedule;

modify a discovery parameter;

modify an alert generation criterion;

modify a schedule to report asset information; and

modify a schedule to report site information.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the query using hypertext transfer protocol.

10. A method of controlling a resource using an instruction corresponding to a command received from a remote location, comprising:

transmitting, by a second server, a query directed to a first server, wherein the second server is prevented from receiving unauthorized communication from the first server by a firewall;

if the first server has a relevant command available;

receiving, by the second server, a response to the query, wherein the response includes the relevant command,

determining, by the second server, a print device for which the command is relevant,

sending, from the second server to the resource, an instruction corresponding to the relevant command, wherein communication between the resource and the second server is not restricted by the firewall, and

implementing, by the resource, the instruction; and

if the first server does not have a relevant command available, automatically repeating the transmitting until the first server has a relevant command available.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein:

a plurality of resources are in communication with the second server without restriction by the firewall,

the determining comprises determining which of the plurality of resources are relevant to the command, and

the sending comprises sending the instruction corresponding to the command to each of the relevant resources.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

before the sending, determining whether the command satisfies a schema; and

only sending the instruction if the command satisfies the schema.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

ensuring, by the second server, that the instruction satisfies a protocol for communication with the resource.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the instruction corresponding to the relevant command, when executed by the resource, will cause the resource to perform at least one of the following actions:

change a setting on the resource;

reboot the resource;

upgrade firmware in the resource;

retrieve consumable level information from the resource;

retrieve print meter information from the resource;

troubleshoot the resource; and

perform a test print on the resource.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the command further includes a second instruction to be implemented by the second server, and the method comprises implementing, by the second server, the second instruction so that a setting is changed on the second server.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the command further includes a second instruction to be implemented by the second server, and the method further comprises:

determining, by the second server, whether the command satisfies a schema; and

if the command satisfies the schema, executing, by the second server, the command on the second server.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the command, when executed by the second server, will cause the second server to perform at least one of the following actions:

modify a discovery schedule;

modify a discovery parameter;

modify an alert generation criterion;

modify a schedule to report asset information; and

modify a schedule to report site information.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the query using hypertext transfer protocol.