Imposing a delay for indication of a status board to provide a time for self-rectification of a service event detected from peripheral status information

• US 6,889,264 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2002
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Clough, James, Cherry, Darrel
• Primary Examiner(s): Park, Ilwoo
• Application Number:
  US10/267,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20040073720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 710/15, 710/19, 709/223, 709/224, 700/17, 700 19- 21, 714/25, 714/47, 714/48, 358/1.15, 399/8, 340/825.36
• US Class Current: 710/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1229 Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1232 Transmitting printer device capabilities, e.g. upon request or periodically
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/044 comprising hierarchical management structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route

Abstract

Various systems and methods are provided for monitoring and supporting a number of peripheral devices. In one embodiment, a network is provided that comprises a local agent in a local server that is in data communication with the number of peripheral devices. An amount of status information is obtained from the peripheral devices and stored in the local server. The network also includes a central monitoring system in a central monitoring server that is in data communication with the local agent. A copy of the status information is transmitted from the local agent to the central monitoring system and stored in the central monitoring server. Also, a status board is maintained by the central monitoring system, the status board indicating at least one service event associated with an operation of at least one of the peripheral devices.

Claims

1. A method for providing support for a number of peripheral devices, comprising:

storing the amount of status information obtained from the peripheral devices in a local server;

transmitting the amount of status information associated with each of the peripheral devices from the local server to a central monitoring server;

storing the amount of status information in the central monitoring server;

analyzing the status information in the central monitoring server to detect an existence of at least one service event associated with an operation of at least one of the peripheral devices;

maintaining a status board for the indication of a plurality of detected service events;

imposing a delay with respect to the at least one service event after the at least one service event is detected in the status information in the central monitoring server to provide a period of time for self-rectification of the at least one service event; and

including the at least one service event on the status board as one of the detected service events after the delay.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a request from a central monitoring system in the central monitoring server to a local agent in the local server for the transmission of the amount of status information by the local agent to the central monitoring system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining in the central monitoring system whether the local agent is operational.

4. A network for providing support for a number of peripheral devices, comprising:

a local agent in a local server that is in data communication with the number of peripheral devices;

an amount of status information obtained from the peripheral devices and stored in the local server;

a central monitoring system in a central monitoring server that is in data communication with the local agent;

a copy of the status information transmitted from the local agent to the central monitoring system and stored in the central monitoring server;

a status board maintained by the central monitoring system, the status board indicating at least one service event associated with an operation of at least one of the peripheral devices;

the central monitoring system further comprising logic that examines the amount of status information stored in the central monitoring server to detect the existence of the at least one service event; and

wherein the central monitoring system imposes a delay between the detection of the at least one service event and the inclusion of the at least one service event on the status board to provide a period of time for self-rectification of the at least one service event.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a request that is generated by the central monitoring system and transmitted to the local agent for the transmission of the copy of the status information.

6. A system for providing support for a number of peripheral devices, comprising:

first means for obtaining and storing an amount of status information from the peripheral devices at a local site;

second means for obtaining and storing a copy of the amount of status information from the first means, the second means being located at a central site;

a status board for indicating at least one service event associated with an operation of at least one of the peripheral devices, the status board being located at the central site; and

wherein the second means further comprises;

means for detecting the at least one service event from the copy of the amount of status information obtained and stored by the second means;

means for including the at least one service event on the status board; and

means for imposing a delay between a detection of the at least one service event and the inclusion of the at least one service event on the status beard to provide a period of time for self-rectification of the at least one service event.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second means further comprises means for generating and transmitting a request to the first means for the transmission of the copy of the status information.