Methods and systems for imaging device accounting data management

• US 8,384,925 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• 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): RUDOLPH, VINCENT M
• Application Number:
  US11/192,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20060077432A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,769 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 358/1.14
• 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

Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems, methods and devices for maintaining imaging device (IDev) accounting data in the event that an imaging device'"'"'s primary accounting server becomes unavailable.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining imaging device (IDev) accounting data in the event of a primary accounting server (PAS) failure, said method comprising:

a) determining whether said PAS is active, wherein said PAS is a computing device maintaining a financial accounting record of jobs performed by users of said IDev with user accounts and said IDev is connected to said PAS with a communication network;

b) sending first IDev activity data to said PAS when said PAS is active, wherein said first IDev activity data comprises a financial accounting record of jobs performed by users of said IDev with user accounts during an active period when said PAS is active;

c) accessing a list comprising at least one lightweight accounting backup server (LABS) from an accounting-controlled Imaging Device (IDev) when said primary accounting server is not active, wherein said LABS is a computing device maintaining a temporary IDev activity log (TIAL) comprising an accounting record of jobs performed by users of said IDev with user accounts when said PAS is inactive and wherein said IDev is connected to said LABS with a communication network;

d) determining whether a first LABS on said list is active;

e) sending second IDev activity data from said (IDev) to said first LABS on said list when said first LABS is active, wherein said first LABS uses said second IDev activity data to update and maintain said TIAL;

f) determining whether another LABS on said list is active when said first LABS is not active; and

g) sending said second activity data to said another LABS when said another LABS is active and said first LABS is not active, wherein said another LABS uses said second IDev activity data to update and maintain said TIAL.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said determining comprises sending a message and receiving an acknowledgement.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said list of LABS comprises an order for accessing said at least one LABS wherein said list is in order of geographic proximity to said IDev.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said list of LABS comprises an order for accessing said at least one LABS wherein said list is in an order based on network topology.

5. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising continuing to send said activity data to said active LABS until said PAS becomes active.

6. A method for multiple-redundant maintenance of imaging device (IDev) accounting data in the event of a primary accounting server (PAS) failure, said method comprising:

a) determining whether a first LABS is active, wherein said first LABS is a computing device maintaining a first temporary IDev activity log (TIAL) comprising an accounting record of jobs performed by users of said IDev with user accounts when said PAS is inactive and wherein said IDev is connected to said first LABS with a communication network;

b) sending IDev activity data to said first LABS when said first LABS is active, wherein said first LABS uses said IDev activity data to update and maintain said first TIAL;

c) accessing a list comprising a plurality of lightweight accounting backup server (LABSs) from an accounting-controlled Imaging Device (IDev) when said first LABS is not active;

d) determining whether a second LABS on said list is active , wherein said second LABS is a computing device maintaining a second temporary IDev activity log (TIAL) comprising an accounting record of jobs performed by users of said IDev with user accounts when said first LABS is inactive and wherein said IDev is connected to said second LABS with a communication network;

e) sending second IDev activity data from said (IDev) to said second LABS on said list when said second LABS is active, wherein said second LABS uses said second IDev activity data to update and maintain said second TIAL;

f) determining whether another LABS on said list is active when said second LABS is not active, wherein said another LABS is a computing device maintaining a third temporary IDev activity log (TIAL) comprising an accounting record of jobs performed by users of said IDev with user accounts when said second LABS is inactive and wherein said IDev is connected to said another LABS with a communication network; and

g) sending third IDev activity data to said another LABS when said another LABS is active and said first and second LABS are not active, wherein said another LABS uses said third IDev activity data to update and maintain a third TIAL.

7. A method as described in claim 6 wherein said determining comprises sending a message and receiving an acknowledgement.

8. A method as described in claim 6 wherein said list of LABS comprises an order for accessing said at least one LABS wherein said list is in order of geographic proximity to said IDev.

9. A method as described in claim 6 wherein said list of LABS comprises an order for accessing said at least one LABS wherein said list is in an order based on network topology.

10. A method for maintaining imaging device (IDev) accounting data in the event of a primary accounting server (PAS) failure, said method comprising:

a) receiving a recovery message from said PAS at an accounting-controlled Imaging Device (IDev), said message comprising an instruction for said IDev to designate said PAS as a current accounting server (CAS) for maintaining IDev activity data , wherein said PAS is a computing device maintaining a financial accounting record of jobs performed by users of said IDev with user accounts and said IDev is connected to said PAS with a communication network;

b) commencing to send IDev activity data to said PAS , wherein said IDev activity data comprises a financial accounting record of jobs performed by users of said IDev with user accounts;

c) requesting a temporary IDev activity log (TIAL) from a lightweight accounting backup server (LABS), wherein said LABS is a computing device maintaining a temporary IDev activity log (TIAL) comprising an accounting record of jobs performed by users of said IDev with user accounts during a period when said PAS is inactive and wherein said IDev is connected to said LABS with a communication network;

d) receiving said TIAL from said LABS; and

e) forwarding said TIAL to a said PAS, which is now designated as a CAS.

11. A method as described in claim 10 wherein said LABS is part of a network computing device.

12. A method as described in claim 10 wherein said LABS is part of a network computing device that is primarily a client computing device.

13. A method as described in claim 10 wherein said requesting said TIAL, receiving said TIAL and said forwarding said TIAL are replaced by requesting that said LABS send said TIAL directly to said PAS.