Remote diagnosis of copy quality defects
First Claim
1. A process for remotely diagnosing non-repeatable copy quality defects in printed pages of a print job being processed by an electronic reprographic system, the reprographic system includes a printer for producing prints from the pages in response to job program instructions, and a user interface with display screen and at least one command input device for inputting the job program instructions for the print job, comprising the steps of:
- printing the print job;
determining a non-repeatable copy quality defect is present;
loading the defective print job pages into a system document handler for scanning;
scanning the defective print job pages thereby creating digitized page images of the defective pages;
transferring the digitized page images containing the copy quality defect along with reprographic system identification and physical data to a remote diagnostic computer, the remote diagnostic computer having expert system software stored in a memory thereof for analyzing the copy quality defect;
analyzing the digitized page images using the remote diagnostic computer;
receiving from the remote diagnostic computer at least one of a status message, notice that a service technician is responding and a list of corrective procedures, the at least one status message, notice and list being displayed on the user interface display screen; and
implementing the list of corrective procedures thereby correcting the copy quality defect.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for remotely diagnosing copy quality defects. The image scanner on a system reprographics machine, or other digital copier, is used to scan a document that has a copy quality defect. Information about the problem, which may include the scanned image itself as well as machine related parameters resident in non-volatile memory, is then transmitted to a host computer that can diagnose the problem. The diagnosis and instructions for correcting the defect are thereupon given either to a service representative or transmitted back to the user, who can then correct the problem. In some instances, the problem can be fixed remotely by adjusting non-volatile memory values using the Remote Interactive Communications (RIC) network or other similar communications network between the host computer and the defective system reprographic machine.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A process for remotely diagnosing non-repeatable copy quality defects in printed pages of a print job being processed by an electronic reprographic system, the reprographic system includes a printer for producing prints from the pages in response to job program instructions, and a user interface with display screen and at least one command input device for inputting the job program instructions for the print job, comprising the steps of:
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printing the print job; determining a non-repeatable copy quality defect is present; loading the defective print job pages into a system document handler for scanning; scanning the defective print job pages thereby creating digitized page images of the defective pages; transferring the digitized page images containing the copy quality defect along with reprographic system identification and physical data to a remote diagnostic computer, the remote diagnostic computer having expert system software stored in a memory thereof for analyzing the copy quality defect; analyzing the digitized page images using the remote diagnostic computer; receiving from the remote diagnostic computer at least one of a status message, notice that a service technician is responding and a list of corrective procedures, the at least one status message, notice and list being displayed on the user interface display screen; and implementing the list of corrective procedures thereby correcting the copy quality defect. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A process for remotely diagnosing repeatable copy quality defects in printed pages of a print job being processed by an electronic reprographic system, the reprographic system including a printer for producing prints from the pages in response to job program instructions, and a user interface with display screen and at least one command input device for inputting the job program instructions for the print job, comprising the steps of:
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printing the print job; determining a repeatable copy quality defect is present; instructing the reprographic system, by job program instruction, to print a test pattern stored in a memory of the reprographic system, the printed test pattern now exhibits the copy quality defect; loading the printed test pattern into a system document handler for scanning; scanning the defective printed test pattern thereby creating a digitized image of the printed test pattern; transferring the digitized image of the printed test pattern along with reprographic system identification and physical data to a remote diagnostic computer, the remote diagnostic computer having expert system software stored in a first memory thereof for analyzing the copy quality defect; analyzing the digitized image of the printed test pattern containing the copy quality defect using the remote diagnostic computer; receiving from the remote diagnostic computer at least one of a status message, notice that a service technician is responding and a list of corrective procedures, the at least one status message, notice and list being displayed on the user interface display screen; and implementing the list of corrective procedures thereby correcting the copy quality defect. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification