Remote monitoring and software distribution system for servicing inserter systems
First Claim
1. A method for controlling transfer of files in a network of mail production inserter machines for processing printed mail, the network of mail production inserter machines including a plurality of inserter machines located at a plurality of inserter sites, and a command center at a command site remote from the inserter sites, the method comprising:
- storing mail production inserter data at the plurality of inserter sites, wherein the mail production inserter data includes data pertaining to individual printed mail items;
storing software updates distribution to the remote inserter sites;
defining a file transfer transaction using a command center computer interface, the step of defining the file transfer transaction further including;
selecting one or more of the plurality of mail production inserter machines for the file transfer transaction;
identifying inserter data from the selected one or more mail production inserter machines to transfer to the command center;
identifying software updates to transfer from the command center to the one or more selected production inserter machines;
identifying a time for the file transfer transaction;
identifying a sequence for inserter data transfer and software update portions of the file transfer transaction; and
executing the defined file transfer transaction.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for controlling transfer of files in a network of inserters at a plurality of sites from a remote command center. The method retrieving inserter data stored at the plurality of inserter sites and storing the data at the command center. The command center further uploading software updates to the plurality of inserters in accordance with a predefined upload/download scheme. The upload/download scheme defined at the command center via a graphical interface. The upload/download scheme identifying one or more of the plurality of inserters for the file transfer transaction, identifying inserter data from the selected one or more inserters to upload to the command center, identifying software updates to download from the command center to the one or more selected inserters, identifying a time for the file transfer transaction, identifying a sequence for the upload and download portions of the transfer transaction; and executing the defined file transfer transaction.
14 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for controlling transfer of files in a network of mail production inserter machines for processing printed mail, the network of mail production inserter machines including a plurality of inserter machines located at a plurality of inserter sites, and a command center at a command site remote from the inserter sites, the method comprising:
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storing mail production inserter data at the plurality of inserter sites, wherein the mail production inserter data includes data pertaining to individual printed mail items; storing software updates distribution to the remote inserter sites; defining a file transfer transaction using a command center computer interface, the step of defining the file transfer transaction further including; selecting one or more of the plurality of mail production inserter machines for the file transfer transaction; identifying inserter data from the selected one or more mail production inserter machines to transfer to the command center; identifying software updates to transfer from the command center to the one or more selected production inserter machines; identifying a time for the file transfer transaction; identifying a sequence for inserter data transfer and software update portions of the file transfer transaction; and executing the defined file transfer transaction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for remote monitoring and control of a network of inserters mail production inserter machines for processing printed mail, the network of mail production inserter machines including a plurality of mail production inserter machines located at a plurality of inserter sites, the system comprising:
a command center remote from the plurality of inserter sites, the command center including; a storage device for storing software updates to be supplied to the plurality of mail production inserter machines; an application server providing a file transfer creation interface to create a definition of a file transfer transaction, the definition being stored in a database, the definition including identification of one or more of the plurality of mail production inserter machines for the file transfer transaction, inserter data from the selected one or more mail production inserter machines to transfer to the command center, software updates for distribution to the remote inserter sites to transfer from the command center to the one or more selected mail production inserter machines, a time for the file transfer transaction, and a sequence for inserter data transfer and software update portions of the transfer transaction, wherein inserter data includes data pertaining to individual printed mail items; and a first network server communicating the file transfer transaction definition to the one or more remote inserter sites; the remote inserter sites each including; an inserter running in accordance with inserter software, the inserter further generating inserter data corresponding to performance of the inserter; a data concentrator controlling the file transfer transaction in accordance with the file transfer definition at the one or more remote inserter sites; and a second network server communicating with the first network server; and
wherein software updates are transferred to the inserter from the command center and inserter data is transferred from the inserter site to the command center in accordance with the definition of the file transfer transaction.- View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
Specification