Method and system for online printer error database

• US 7,711,808 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2001
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Parry, Travis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WINDER, PATRICE L
• Application Number:
  US10/006,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20030088630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,099 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/224, 358/1.15
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0709 in a distributed system consisting of a plurality of standalone computer nodes, e.g. clusters, client-server systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0733 in a data processing system embedded in an image processing device, e.g. printer, facsimile, scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0748 in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault remote testing G06F11/2294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/121 Facilitating exception or error detection and recovery, e.g. fault, media or consumables depleted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1234 Errors handling and recovery, e.g. reprinting G06F3/1261 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for generating an online database of printer error messages. In one embodiment, a printer contains an error detecting device and an embedded Web server in communication with a global computer network. If printer errors are detected, error messages are generated. Each error message is conveyed through the embedded web server to an online database. The online database contains error information conveyed by a large number of printers, which can be monitored and analyzed. Methods of the present invention include providing a printer incorporating an embedded web server linked to a network, and a error detector. The error detector monitors print jobs sent to the printer, generating an error message when an error is detected. Error messages are conveyed by the embedded web server through the network to an online error message database and may be written to an internal printer error log.

Claims

1. A method of collecting information on printer errors over a network, comprising:

providing a printer incorporating a web server, said printer comprising a error detector for detecting errors in printing functions;

attaching said printer to a network, such that said web server is linked to said network;

providing at least one receiving computer in communication with said network, said at least one receiving computer including at least one online error database stored within a memory therein, said at least one online error database capable of receiving an error message generated by said printer and conveyed over said network;

conveying a print job over said network to said printer;

receiving said print job at said printer;

examining said print job for transmittal errors with said error detector;

detecting transmittal errors in said print jobs which contain transmittal errors generating a transmittal error message containing details of said transmittal errors;

conveying said transmittal error message over said network with said web server automatically in response to detection of the transmittal error;

receiving said transmittal error message into said at least one online error database by said receiving computer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing said print job with said printer;

detecting process errors where said processing results in said process errors;

generating a process error message containing details of said process errors; and

conveying said process error message over said network with said web server automatically in response to detection of the process error;

receiving said process error message into said at least one online error database by said receiving computer.

3. The method of claim 2, where said processing includes converting said print job into RIP format and storing said print job in a job retention memory located in said printer.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

printing a document specified in said print job with said printer;

detecting output errors where said printing results in said output errors;

generating an output error message containing details of said output errors;

conveying said output error message over said network with said web server automatically in response to detection of the output error; and

receiving said output error message into said at least one online error database by said receiving computer.

5. The method of claim 4, where said printing includes controlling mechanical printing components of said printer to produce said document.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising attaching a workstation in communication with the printer, such that said print job originates on said work station and is conveyed to said printer.

7. The method of claim 6, where said print job is conveyed to said printer in PCL format.

8. The method of claim 1, where said error message is generated in HTML format.

9. The method of claim 1, where said network comprises the internet.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the error message is selectively stored in one of a plurality of online error databases based upon at least one of a model type of the printer or a set of software programs being run by the printer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the error message is stored in a plurality of online databases.

12. A system for garnering information on printer errors, comprising:

a plurality of printers, each printer incorporating a web server linked to a network, each printer including an error detector for detecting errors in printing functions;

at least one receiving computer in communication with said network, said at least one receiving computer having a memory thereon; and

at least one online error database stored within the memory of said at least one receiving computer, said at least one online error database capable of receiving an error message generated by any of the plurality of printers and conveyed over said network, wherein the printer is configured to automatically generate and convey the error message over said network to the at least one online error database upon detection of an error.

13. A method comprising:

detecting a first error at a first printer incorporating a first web server;

generating a first error message at the first printer;

conveying the first error message to a first online error database with the first web server over a network;

detecting a second error at a second printer incorporating a second web server;

generating a second error message at the second printer; and

conveying the second error message to the first online error database with the second web server over a network, wherein the first error messages automatically conveyed to the online error database in response to detection of the first error.

14. A method comprising:

detecting a first error at a first printer incorporating a first web server;

generating a first error message at the first printer;

conveying the first error message to a first online error database with the first web server over a network;

detecting a second error at a second printer incorporating a second web server;

generating a second error message at the second printer; and

conveying the second error message to the first online error database with the second web server over a network;

for each of a first plurality of printers comprising a first model type or running a first set of software programs, the first plurality of printers including the first printer and the second printer, conveying generated error messages to the first online error database based on the first model type or the first set of software programs of each of the first plurality of printers; and

for each of a second plurality of printers having a second distinct model type or running a second distinct set of software programs, each printer of the second plurality of printers incorporating a web server;

detecting error messages;

generating error messages; and

conveying the generated error messages to a second online error database based on the second distinct model type or second set of software programs of each of the second plurality of printers.