System for tracking and automatically communicating printer failures and usage profile aspects

• US 6,317,848 B1
• Filed: 09/24/1998
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sorens, Michael J., Montgomery, Kerry A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myers, Paul R.
• Application Number:
  US09/160,468
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 714/48, 714/47, 710/19, 713/502
• US Class Current: 714/48
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5079 for maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/55 Self-diagnostics; Malfunction or lifetime display
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0017 Preparing data for the controlling system, e.g. status, memory data

Abstract

Upon particular occurrences, such as a page being printed, a printer job done, an error event or a passing of a day, data is recorded to non-volatile memory (NVRAM) to record data over time. Once a trigger event occurs such as an error, a pattern of occurrences of printer conditions, a passage of a certain amount of time, a number of pages printed, a POSTSCRIPT snippet sent, a user command or a command via the World Wide Web (WWW), an email is automatically sent to a number of email addresses selected by the user. The email contains specially formatted encoded data that was previously recorded over time upon an occurrence as described above.

Claims

1. A method for tracking and communicating printer failures and usage profile aspects comprising the steps of:

detecting when a first predetermined amount of time has passed;

writing printer consumable usage data and printer condition data to non-volatile memory;

detecting an occurrence of a printer condition;

writing the printer consumable usage data and the printer condition data pertaining to the printer condition detected to non-volatile memory;

repeating the steps of detecting when a first predetermined amount of time has passed, writing printer consumable usage data and printer condition data to non-volatile memory, detecting an occurrence of a printer condition and writing the printer consumable usage data and the printer condition data pertaining to the printer condition detected to non-volatile memory, until either a second predetermined amount of time has passed, a predetermined number of pages have been printed, a predetermined command has been entered, a printer error has occurred or a pattern of occurrences of printer conditions has occurred;

sending an email message showing the printer consumable usage data and printer condition data written over the predetermined amounts of time, thereby communicating patterns of printer usage over time.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first predetermined amount of time in the pre-determined amount of time detection step is 1 day.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the printer condition data are a quantity count, a count of printer occurrences, and a histogram of printer occurrences.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the printer condition in the step of detecting an occurrence of a printer condition is when a page is printed, when a printer job is completed, when a printer error occurs, when a door opens, when a tray is removed, or a button pushed.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the second predetermined amount of time is 3.5 calendar days.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the second predetermined amount of time is configurable by a user.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined number of pages having been printed in the repeating step is 500 pages.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined number of pages having been printed in the repeating step is configurable by a user.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined command is made by a user via a front panel on a printer.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined command is made via a POSTSCRIPT snippet sent to the printer.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined command is made via an email sent containing a POSTSCRIPT snippet to be sent to the printer.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the email message is sent to the manufacturer and to email addresses selectively chosen by a user.

13. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of printing out a report upon a predetermined command showing the printer consumable usage data and printer condition data written over the predetermined amounts of time.

14. The method according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined command is made via Internet.