Communication link between mobile input/output bins and a data center to provide backup

• US 6,844,820 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2003
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Carlson, Gerard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V.
• Application Number:
  US10/735,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20040124991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 340/679, 340/500, 340/612, 340/613, 340/988, 235/384, 700/218, 700/228
• US Class Current: 340/679
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5079 for maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/55 Self-diagnostics; Malfunction or lifetime display
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/553 Monitoring or warning means for exhaustion or lifetime end of consumables, e.g. indication of insufficient copy sheet quantity for a job

Abstract

This invention relates to self-propelled, mobile input/output bins (MIOBs). Such structures of this type, generally, allow several MIOBs to communicate with one another and a data center. For example, the MIOBs can communicate with a data center if one of the MIOBs experiences a breakdown so that MIOB can be sent to assist with the breakdown.

Claims

1. A method for communicating between a mobile input/output bin and a data center, comprising the steps of:

detecting an out-of-service condition at a first self-propelled, mobile input/output bin;

interacting between said first bin and a data center; and

alleviating said out-of-service condition through the use of a second self-propelled, mobile input/output bin.

2. The method, as in claim 1, wherein said detecting step is further comprised of the step of:

scanning/monitoring said first bin to detect said out-of-service condition.

3. The method, as in claim 1, wherein said method is further comprised of the step of:

outfitting said second bin so that said second bin alleviates said out-of-service condition.

4. The method, as in claim 1, wherein said method is further comprised of the step of:

notifying a data center that said first bin is out-of-service.

5. The method, as in claim 1, wherein said method is further comprised of the step of:

notifying a data center that at least one more bin is needed to alleviate said out-of-service condition.

6. A method for passively alleviating an out-of-service condition, comprising the steps of:

detecting an out-of-service condition at a first self-propelled, mobile input/output bin;

interacting between said first bin and a data center; and

sending a second self-propelled, mobile input/output bin to said first bin in order to alleviate said out-of-service condition.

7. The method, as in claim 6, wherein said method is further comprised of the step of:

outfitting said second bin so that said second bin alleviates said out-of-service condition.

8. The method, as in claim 6, wherein said method is further comprised of the step of:

notifying a data center that said first bin is out-of-service.

9. The method, as in claim 6, wherein said method is further comprised of the step of:

notifying a data center that at least one more bin is needed to alleviate said out-of-service condition.

10. A method for actively alleviating an out-of-service condition, comprising the steps of:

scanning/monitoring a first self-propelled, mobile input/output bin by a second self-propelled, mobile input/output bin;

detecting an out-of-service condition at said first bin by said second bin; and

alleviating said out-of-service condition through the use of said second bin.

11. The method, as in claim 10, wherein said method is further comprised of the step of:

outfitting said second bin so that said second bin alleviates said out-of-service condition.

12. The method, as in claim 10, wherein said method is further comprised of the step of:

notifying a data center that said first bin is out-of-service.

13. The method, as in claim 10, wherein said method is further comprised of the step of:

notifying a data center that at least one more bin is needed to alleviate said out-of-service condition.