Method and system for remote management of print devices

• US 8,570,550 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Pothos, Kirk V., Kumar, Krishna
• Primary Examiner(s): Kau, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMAS, ASHISH
• Application Number:
  US11/853,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20090066994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,240 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 710/220, 700/17
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1222 Increasing security of the print job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1238 Secure printing, e.g. user identification, user rights for device usage, unallowed content, blanking portions or fields of a page, releasing held jobs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls

Abstract

A method of controlling a print device using an instruction corresponding to a command received from a remote location. A second server may transmit a query directed to a first server. The second server may be prevented from receiving unauthorized communication from the first server by a firewall. If the first server has a relevant command available, the second server may receive a response to the query. The response may include the relevant command. The second server may determine a print device for which the command is relevant. An instruction corresponding to the relevant command may be sent from the second server to the print device. Communication between the print device and the second server may not be restricted by the firewall. The printing device may implement the instruction. If the first server does not have a relevant command available, the transmitting may automatically repeat until the first server has a relevant command available.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a print device using an instruction corresponding to a command received from a remote location, comprising:

transmitting, by a second server, a query directed to a first server, wherein the second server is prevented from receiving unauthorized communication from the first server by a firewall, a plurality of print devices are in communication with the second server without restriction by the firewall, and the query is to determine whether a command has been posted at the first server for one of the plurality of print devices;

if the first server has a relevant command available;

receiving, by the second server, a response to the query, wherein the response includes the relevant command,

determining, by the second server, which of the plurality of print devices are relevant to the relevant command,

sending, from the second server to each of the relevant print devices, a support instruction corresponding to the relevant command, wherein communication between the print device and the second server is not restricted by the firewall, and

implementing, by the print device, the product support instruction,

wherein the relevant command further includes a second product support instruction to be implemented by the second server, and the method comprises implementing, by the second server, the second product support instruction so that a setting is changed on the second server; and

if the first server does not have a relevant command available, automatically repeating the transmitting until the first server has a relevant command available.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

before the sending, determining whether the relevant command is within a category for which execution of the command is permitted; and

only sending the product support instruction if the relevant command is within the category.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

ensuring, by the second server, that the product support instruction satisfies a protocol for communication with the print device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the product support instruction corresponding to the relevant command, when executed by the print device, will cause the print device to perform at least one of the following actions:

reboot the printing device; and

troubleshoot the printing device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the query using hypertext transfer protocol.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the product support instruction corresponding to the relevant command, when executed by the print device, will cause the print device to perform at least one of the following actions:

retrieve consumable level information from the printing device; and

retrieve print meter information from the printing device.

7. A method of controlling a print device using an instruction corresponding to a command received from a remote location, comprising:

transmitting, by a second server, a query directed to a first server, wherein the second server is prevented from receiving unauthorized communication from the first server by a firewall, a plurality of print devices are in communication with the second server without restriction by the firewall, and the query is to determine whether a command has been posted at the first server for one of the plurality of print devices;

if the first server has a relevant command available;

receiving, by the second server, a response to the query, wherein the response includes the relevant command,

determining, by the second server, which of the plurality of print devices are relevant to the relevant command,

sending, from the second server to each of the relevant print devices, a support instruction corresponding to the relevant command, wherein communication between the print device and the second server is not restricted by the firewall, and

implementing, by the print device, the product support instruction by performing at least one of the following actions;

rebooting the printing device;

troubleshooting the printing device; and

wherein the relevant command further includes a second product support instruction to be implemented by the second server, and the method further comprises;

determining, by the second server, whether the relevant command is within a category for which execution of the command is permitted; and

if the command satisfies the category, executing, by the second server, the command on the second server; and

if the first server does not have a relevant command available, automatically repeating the transmitting until the first server has a relevant command available.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the relevant command, when executed by the second server, will cause the second server to perform at least one of the following actions:

modify a discovery schedule;

modify a discovery parameter;

modify an alert generation criterion;

modify a schedule to report asset information; and

modify a schedule to report site information.

9. A method of controlling a resource using an instruction corresponding to a command received from a remote location, comprising:

transmitting, by a second server, a query directed to a first server, wherein the second server is prevented from receiving unauthorized communication from the first server by a firewall, a plurality of resources are in communication with the second server without restriction by the firewall, and the query is to determine whether a command has been posted at the first server for one of the plurality of resources;

if the first server has a relevant command available;

receiving, by the second server, a response to the query, wherein the response includes the relevant command,

determining, by the second server, which of the plurality of resources are relevant to the relevant command,

sending, from the second server to each of the relevant resources, a product support instruction corresponding to the relevant command, wherein communication between the resource and the second server is not restricted by the firewall, and

implementing, by the resource, the product support instruction,

wherein the command further includes a second product support instruction to be implemented by the second server, and the method comprises implementing, by the second server, the second product support instruction so that a setting is changed on the second server; and

if the first server does not have a relevant command available, automatically repeating the transmitting until the first server has a relevant command available.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

before the sending, determining whether the relevant command is within a category for which execution of the command is permitted; and

only sending the product support instruction if the relevant command is within the category.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

ensuring, by the second server, that the product support instruction satisfies a protocol for communication with the resource.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the product support instruction corresponding to the relevant command, when executed by the resource, will cause the resource to perform at least one of the following actions:

reboot the resource;

upgrade firmware in the resource; and

troubleshoot the resource.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the query using hypertext transfer protocol.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the product support instruction corresponding to the relevant command, when executed by the resource, will cause the resource to perform at least one of the following actions:

retrieve consumable level information from the resource; and

retrieve print meter information from the resource.

15. A method of controlling a resource using an instruction corresponding to a command received from a remote location, comprising:

transmitting, by a second server, a query directed to a first server, wherein the second server is prevented from receiving unauthorized communication from the first server by a firewall, a plurality of resources are in communication with the second server without restriction by the firewall, and the query is to determine whether a command has been posted at the first server for one of the plurality of resources;

if the first server has a relevant command available;

receiving, by the second server, a response to the query, wherein the response includes the relevant command,

determining, by the second server, which of the plurality of resources are relevant to the relevant command,

sending, from the second server to each of the relevant resources, a product support instruction corresponding to the relevant command, wherein communication between the resource and the second server is not restricted by the firewall, and

implementing, by the resource, the product support instruction by performing at least one of the following actions;

rebooting the resource;

upgrading firmware in the resource; and

troubleshooting the resource,

wherein the command further includes a second product support instruction to be implemented by the second server, and the method further comprises;

determining, by the second server, whether the relevant command is within a category for which execution of the command is permitted; and

if the command satisfies the category, executing, by the second server, the command on the second server; and

if the first server does not have a relevant command available, automatically repeating the transmitting until the first server has a relevant command available.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the command, when executed by the second server, will cause the second server to perform at least one of the following actions:

modify a discovery schedule;

modify a discovery parameter;

modify an alert generation criterion;

modify a schedule to report asset information; and

modify a schedule to report site information.