Methods and systems for transmitting content to an imaging device

• US 8,120,797 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• 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: Lovat, David J., Zhang, Hanzhong
• Primary Examiner(s): Haskins, Twyler
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, LENNIN ROBINSON
• Application Number:
  US11/193,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20060107212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,398 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 400/74
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• 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 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00464 using browsers, i.e. interfaces based on mark-up languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00503 Customising to a particular machine or model, machine function or application
• 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

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to systems, methods and devices for sending content to an imaging device display using a browser and an embedded application. Some aspects relate to an interruptive process whereby a browser process is interrupted in order to display new browser content. Some aspects relate to an interruptive process whereby alarm or error content is pushed to the browser.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting content to an imaging device display, said method comprising:

receiving an error notification from a web service application on a multi-function peripheral (MFP) device, wherein said error notification comprises a markup language error message identifying an MFP error;

determining whether an error described in said error notification is recoverable;

if said error is recoverable, resolving said error by interacting with a device management a application programming interface (API) on said MFP, wherein said interacting consists of requesting a device status report, requesting job queue and history information, retrieving data security settings and configuring said MFP or rebooting said MFP, and replacing said error notification with an error resolution notification;

matching said error notification or said error resolution notification to a resource identifier identifying the location of error message or error resolution message content related to said error identified in said error notification;

sending a display request to said web service application on said MFP, said display request comprising said resource identifier embedded in a markup language error message or error resolution message, said display request also comprising directions to push said resource identifier to a browser on said MFP;

receiving a request for said markup language error message identified by said resource identifier from said browser on said MFP; and

transmitting said markup language error message from said resource to said MFP browser.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said resource identifier is a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said display request is a Web Service method call.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said display request is a ShowScreen Web Service method call.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said display request is a ShowScreen Web Service method call comprising a URL.

6. A method for transmitting content to an imaging device display, said method comprising:

receiving an alert notification from a web service application on a multi-function peripheral (MFP) device, wherein said alert notification comprises a markup language alert message identifying an alert condition;

determining whether said alert notification describes a recoverable MFP error;

if said alert notification describes a recoverable MFP error, resolving said error by interacting with a device management application programming interface (API) on said MFP, wherein said interacting consists of requesting a device status report, requesting job queue and history information, retrieving data security settings and configuring said MFP or rebooting said MFP, and replacing said alert notification with an error resolution notification;

matching said alert notification or said error resolution notification to a resource identifier identifying the location of alert message or error resolution message content related to said alert condition identified in said alert notification;

sending a display request to said web service application on said MFP, said display request comprising said resource identifier embedded in said a markup language display alert message or error resolution display message, said display request also comprising directions to push said resource identifier to a browser on said MFP thereby interrupting any current browser content;

receiving a request for said markup language alert message content or said error resolution message content identified by said resource identifier from said browser on said MFP;

transmitting said markup language alert message content or error resolution message content from said resource to said MFP browser; and

outputting said markup language alert message content or error resolution message content on said MFP.

7. A method as described in claim 6 wherein said outputting comprises printing said alert message.

8. A method as described in claim 6 wherein said resource identifier is a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).

9. A method as described in claim 6 wherein said display request is a Web Service method call.

10. A method as described in claim 6 wherein said display request is a ShowScreen Web Service method call.

11. A method as described in claim 6 wherein said display request is a ShowScreen Web Service method call comprising a URL.

12. A method as described in claim 6 wherein said alert message comprises emergency exit instructions for the building in which the MFP is located.

13. A method as described in claim 6 wherein said alert notification is an emergency alert.

14. A remote computing device (RCD) for sending content to an imaging device, said device comprising:

an error notification receiver for receiving an error notification from a web service application on a multi-function peripheral (MFP) device, wherein said error notification comprises a markup language message identifying an MFP error;

an error identifier for determining whether an error described in said error notification is recoverable;

an error resolver for resolving said error, if said error is recoverable, by interacting with a device management application programming interface (API) on said MFP, wherein said interacting consists of requesting a device status report, requesting job queue and history information, retrieving data security settings and configuring said MFP or rebooting said MFP, and replacing said error notification with an error resolution notification;

a web service application for matching said error notification or said error resolution notification to a resource identifier identifying the location of error message or error resolution message content related to an error identified in said error notification;

a display request sender for sending a display request to said web service application on said MFP, said display request comprising said resource identifier embedded in a markup language error display message, said display request also comprising directions to push said resource identifier to a browser on said MFP;

a request receiver for receiving a request for said markup language error message content or error resolution message content identified by said resource identifier from said browser on said MFP; and

content sender for sending said markup language error message content or error resolution message content from said resource to said MFP browser.

15. A device as described in claim 14 wherein said display request is a Web Service method call.