Multiple printer status information indication
First Claim
1. A printing system including a computer having an associated monitor screen and a plurality of printers in bidirectional communication via a communications path with the computer, the computer including a programmed processor which controls an image appearing on the monitor screen, said image including printer status and alert information for a selected printer of the plurality of printers, said processor also being configured to simultaneously control said image so as to display in substantially real time an indication of an error condition occurring at one or more other printers of the plurality of printers, said plurality of printers receiving print data from said computer in print data packets, said computer receiving printer status and alert information from said plurality of printers that are interspersed with said print data packets, said plurality of printers automatically generating, without waiting to be polled, said printer status and alert information, and wherein said indication of said error condition is derived from said alert information.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Bidirectional communications between a host computer and a selected printer connected to the host, either locally or by way of a network, are used to provide a user of the host with access to a substantially real-time, visual and functional replica of the operator panel of the selected printer. A user at the host computer may also visually monitor the status of multiple printers at the same time from the same host display.
576 Citations
15 Claims
- 1. A printing system including a computer having an associated monitor screen and a plurality of printers in bidirectional communication via a communications path with the computer, the computer including a programmed processor which controls an image appearing on the monitor screen, said image including printer status and alert information for a selected printer of the plurality of printers, said processor also being configured to simultaneously control said image so as to display in substantially real time an indication of an error condition occurring at one or more other printers of the plurality of printers, said plurality of printers receiving print data from said computer in print data packets, said computer receiving printer status and alert information from said plurality of printers that are interspersed with said print data packets, said plurality of printers automatically generating, without waiting to be polled, said printer status and alert information, and wherein said indication of said error condition is derived from said alert information.
-
5. A printing system including a computer having an associated monitor screen and a plurality of printers in bidirectional communication via a communications path with the computer, the computer comprising a programmed processor which controls an image appearing on the monitor screen, said image including detailed error information for a selected printer of the plurality of printers, said processor also being configured to simultaneously control said image so as to display in substantially real time a general indication of an error condition occurring at any one or more of the other printers of the plurality of printers, said plurality of printers receiving print data from said computer in print data packets, said computer receiving printer status and alert information from said plurality of printers that are interspersed with said print data packets, said plurality of printers automatically generating, without to be polled, said printer status and alert information, and wherein said indication of said error condition is derived from said alert information.
-
6. In a printing system including a host computer, a plurality of printers, and a communications path therebetween, the host computer having an associated monitor screen, the improvement comprising:
-
a first processing circuit at said host computer, a second processing circuit at one of said plurality of printers, said first processing circuit being configured to simultaneously display on said monitor screen printer status and alert information of a selected printer of said plurality of printers and an indication of a general error condition occurring at one or more of the other printers of said plurality of printers and to receive and process a printer alert signal received from said second processing circuit via said communications path; said second processing circuit being configured to automatically generate, without waiting to be polled, said printer alert signal upon the occurrence of at least one predetermined event occurring at its associated printer, said printer alert signal being transmitted, via said communications path, to said host computer in a data message that is interspersed between data packets containing print data that are transmitted from said host computer to one of said plurality of printers, said first processing circuit being further configured to automatically update the information being displayed on the monitor screen concerning the printer associated with said second processing circuit, thereby updating in substantially real time at said host computer all printer status alerts in connection with the printer associated with said second processing circuit regardless of the status of other data messages of said plurality of printers being transferred through said communications path.
-
Specification