Methods and systems for providing remote, descriptor-related data to an imaging device

• US 8,115,947 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yamamura, Shinichi, Reddy, Amarender Reddy Kethi
• Primary Examiner(s): Haskins, Twyler
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, LENNIN R
• Application Number:
  US11/240,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20060077445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,328 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.14, 358/1.15, 707/200, 705/26, 705/400
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/502 relating to the structure of the control menu, e.g. pop-up menus, help screens
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5075 Remote control machines, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00109 Remote control of apparatus, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/41 where a single sign-on provides access to a plurality of computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/84 output devices, e.g. displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32561 using a programmed control device, e.g. a microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3221 of a job number or identification, e.g. communication number

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to systems, methods and devices for providing access to remote, descriptor-related data at an imaging device user interface. Some aspects relate to accessing a service or product provider resource based on a descriptor that is sent from an imaging device to the selector. Some aspects relate to a selection between multiple providers when multiple providers match criteria defined by the descriptor.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a provider with input from an imaging device, said method comprising:

sending display menu content from a remote computing device (RCD) to a web service module (WSM) on an imaging device (IDev), wherein said display menu content comprises a prompt for user input identifying a descriptor related to a provider resource on said RCD, wherein said display menu content comprises instructions for instructing a user interface (UI) processor on said IDev to convert said display menu content to a format compatible with an IDev display and to display said converted display menu content on said display and wherein said display menu content is a markup language message in a simple object access protocol (SOAP) format;

receiving, at said RCD, said descriptor from said IDev WSM, wherein said descriptor was received as user input at a UI input device of said IDev in response to display of said converted display menu content on said IDev display and wherein said descriptor was sent from said input device to said UI processor and formatted into a markup language descriptor message and sent to said WSM where said descriptor was formatted into a SOAP message and sent to said RCD;

accessing said provider resource with said RCD, said provider resource comprising provider data correlated with descriptors, wherein said provider data consists of a provider location, pricing data, availability data and provider contact information;

identifying, with said provider resource, provider data for at least one provider correlated with said descriptor;

obtaining detailed provider information about said at least one provider by accessing at least one independent provider web site for said at least one provider using contact information in said provider data;

combining said detailed provider information with said provider data to create complemented provider data;

filtering said complemented provider data based on said detailed provider information;

selecting a provider based on said filtered, complemented provider data;

converting said filtered, complemented provider data for said selected provider into a provider data SOAP message;

sending said provider data SOAP message to said IDev WSM;

instructing said IDev to send an order to said selected provider, from said IDev, by sending an initiate send command to a document filing API on said IDev, said initiate send command originating from said RCD, said initiate send command derived from said contact data, send time, sender identification, filename, subject and message.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said descriptor comprises an IDev descriptor.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said descriptor comprises an IDev malfunction descriptor.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said descriptor comprises an IDev supply status descriptor.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said descriptor comprises a descriptor related to a device other than said IDev.

6. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said descriptor comprises a descriptor related to a restaurant.

7. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said descriptor comprises a descriptor related to a food item.

8. A method for compiling a provider order with input from an imaging device, said method comprising:

sending display menu content from a remote computing device (RCD) to a web service module (WSM) on an imaging device (IDev), wherein said display menu content comprises a prompt for user input identifying a descriptor related to a provider resource on said RCD, wherein said display menu content comprises instructions for instructing a user interface (UI) processor on said IDev to convert said display menu content to a format compatible with an IDev display and to display said converted display menu content on said display and wherein said display menu content is a markup language message in a simple object access protocol (SOAP) format;

receiving, at said RCD, said device descriptor from said IDev WSM, wherein said device descriptor was received as user input at a UI input device of said IDev in response to display of said converted display menu content on said IDev display and wherein said device descriptor was sent from said input device to said UI processor and formatted into a markup language device descriptor message and sent to said WSM where said device descriptor was formatted into a SOAP message and sent to said RCD, wherein said device descriptor identifies an imaging device error related to at least one of an imaging device process, a physical part of an imaging device or consumable media consumed in an imaging device process;

accessing said provider resource with said RCD, said resource comprising provider data correlated with descriptors, wherein said provider resource correlates at least one of said imaging device process, said physical part of an imaging device and said consumable media consumed in an imaging device process identified in said device descriptor with a provider;

identifying, with said provider resource, provider data for at least one provider correlated with said device descriptor, wherein said provider data consists of a provider location, pricing data, availability data and provider contact information;

obtaining detailed provider information about said at least one provider by accessing at least one independent provider web site for said at least one provider using said contact information in said provider data;

combining said detailed provider information with said provider data to create complemented provider data;

filtering said complemented provider data based on said detailed provider information;

selecting a provider based on said filtered, complemented provider data;

comparing said filtered, complemented provider data, based on predetermined rules, when said filtered, complemented provider data is identified for more than one provider;

automatically selecting a preferred provider, based on said predetermined rules;

compiling an order for said preferred provider;

sending said order to said IDev; and

instructing said IDev to send an order to a recipient, from said IDev, by sending an initiate send command to a document filing API on said IDev, said initiate send command originating from said RCD, said initiate send command identifying file parameters consisting of resolution, file format, a destination derived from said contact data, send time, sender identification, filename, subject and message.

9. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said recipient is said preferred provider.

10. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said selecting a preferred provider is based on price.

11. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said selecting a preferred provider is based on provider location.

12. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said selecting a preferred provider is based on provider quality.

13. An apparatus for selecting a provider with input from an imaging device, said apparatus comprising:

a display menu content sender for sending display menu content from a remote computing device (RCD) to a web service module (WSM) on an imaging device (IDev), wherein said display menu content comprises a prompt for user input identifying a descriptor related to a provider resource on said RCD, wherein said display menu content comprises instructions for instructing a user interface (UI) processor on said IDev to convert said display menu content to a format compatible with an IDev display and to display said converted display menu content on said display and wherein said display menu content is a markup language message in a simple object access protocol (SOAP) format;

a receiver for receiving, at said RCD, said descriptor from said IDev WSM, wherein said descriptor was received as user input at a UI input device of said IDev in response to display of said converted display menu content on said IDev display and wherein said descriptor was sent from said input device to said UI processor and formatted into a markup language descriptor message and sent to said WSM where said descriptor was formatted into a SOAP message and sent to said RCD;

an accessor for accessing said provider resource, with said RCD, said resource comprising provider data correlated with descriptors, wherein said provider data consists of a provider location, pricing data, availability data and provider contact information;

an identifier for identifying, with said provider resource, provider data for at least one provider correlated with said descriptor;

a browser for obtaining detailed provider information about said at least one provider by accessing at least one independent provider web site for said at least one provider using contact information in said provider data;

a combiner for combining said detailed provider information with said provider data to create complemented provider data;

a filter for filtering said complemented provider data based on said detailed provider information;

a selector for selecting a provider based on said filtered, complemented provider data;

a provider data sender for sending said provider data from said RCD to said IDev WSM; and

a command sender for sending an initiate send command from said RCD to a document filing API on said IDev instructing said IDev to send an order to said selected provider, said initiate send command identifying file parameters consisting of resolution, file format, a destination derived from said contact data, send time, sender identification, filename, subject and message.