Systems and methods for implementing recent experience comment and recent activity log feedback in image forming and media handling devices

• US 8,724,134 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2012
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Jones, Brent Rodney
• Primary Examiner(s): GARCIA, GABRIEL I
• Application Number:
  US13/361,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20130194607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.1, 358/1.9, 358/1.13, 358/1.14, 358/1.15, 358/1.18, 399/8, 399/9, 399/10
• US Class Current: 358/1.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1273 Print job history, e.g. logging, accounting, tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/002 Interacting with the operator
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/4005 Sharing resources or data with other data processing systems; Preparing such data for distributed printing G06K15/1859

Abstract

A feedback scheme is provided in which a combination of function specific firmware and hardware are used to capture a greater representation of issues experienced by a group of end-users specific to particular product with which the combination of function specific firmware and hardware is associated. Product-resident hardware stores record of product usage, faults, interventions and maintenance associated with a particular time window so that product-generated data can be coupled with user-generated experience feedback. A digitally-recorded description of the issue with which the user was confronted that prompted the feedback, and pertinent time frame product operating data is combined and transmitted to a product monitoring center for compilation, analysis and review.

Claims

1. A method for providing feedback regarding an image forming device, comprising:

displaying, on a display device, a prompt for users to submit feedback on a top level print driver page associated with an image forming device;

receiving, by a processor, an electronic request from a particular user to provide feedback regarding interaction between the particular user and the image forming device by actuating the prompt on the top level print driver page;

changing, with the processor, the display on the display device to a formatted feedback form upon the particular user'"'"'s actuation of the prompt by manipulating a user interface associated with the display device;

receiving, with the processor, feedback information provided by the particular user via the particular user'"'"'s manipulation of the user interface;

producing, with the processor, a combined feedback package by combining the received feedback information provided by the particular user with product-generated operating parameter data relevant to a timeframe in which the particular user interacted with the image forming device prior to generating the electronic request to provide feedback; and

outputting the combined data feedback package to a reviewing entity for action.

2. The method of claim 1, the image forming device recording operating parameter data and storing the operating parameter data in a specific data storage location in the image forming device.

3. The method of claim 2, the recorded and stored operating parameter data covering a specific time interval for operation of the image forming device.

4. The method of claim 3, the specific time interval being a fixed time interval after which earliest recorded information is overwritten to maintain the fixed time interval of data in the specific data storage location.

5. The method of claim 4, the product-generated operating parameter data being all or a portion of the recorded and stored operating parameter data relevant to the timeframe in which the particular user interacted with the image forming device.

6. The method of claim 2, the recorded and stored operating parameter data including indications of which users interacted with the image forming device and a nature of each of the users'"'"' interaction.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining the timeframe in which the particular user interacted with the image forming device prior to generating the electronic request to provide feedback by reviewing the indications of which users interacted with the image forming device and the nature of each of the users'"'"' interaction.

8. The method of claim 7, the determining of the timeframe being based, at least in part, on the feedback information provided by the particular user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising limiting the outputting to the reviewing entity by electronically limiting available recipients for the combined feedback package in a manner that is not accessible by the particular user.

10. A system for providing feedback regarding an image forming device, comprising:

a display device that (1) displays an actionable selection for users to submit feedback on a top level print driver page associated with an image forming device;

device the actionable selection including a feedback prompt, and (2) changes the display to a formatted feedback form upon a particular user'"'"'s actuation of the prompt by manipulating a user interface associated with the display device; and

a feedback processor that is programmed (a) to receive feedback information provided by the particular user via the user interface on the formatted feedback form to which the display is changed only after actuation of the prompt by the particular user, and (b) to produce a combined feedback package by combining the feedback information provided by the particular user with product-generated operating parameter data relevant to a timeframe in which the particular user interacted with the image forming device prior to providing the feedback, as enabled; and

an external communication interface that outputs the combined data feedback package to a reviewing entity for action.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising an image forming device processor that is programmed to record operating parameter data for the image forming device and to store the operating parameter data in a specific data storage location in the image forming device,

the recorded and stored operating parameter data covering a specific fixed time interval for operation of the image forming device, the processor directing that earliest recorded information be overwritten to maintain the fixed time interval of data in the specific data storage location.

12. The system of claim 11, the recorded and stored operating parameter data including indications of which users interacted with the image forming device and a nature of each of the users'"'"' interaction, and the feedback processor being further programmed to determine the timeframe in which the particular user interacted with the image forming device prior to providing the feedback by reviewing the indications of which users interacted with the image forming device and the nature of each of the users'"'"' interaction to identify user interaction by the particular user.

13. The system of claim 12, the feedback processor being further programmed to determine the timeframe in which the particular user interacted with the image forming device prior to providing the feedback based on the feedback information provided by the particular user.

14. The system of claim 10, the feedback processor being further programmed to limit the reviewing entity to which the combined data feedback package is output.

15. The system of claim 10, the feedback processor being further programmed to be disabled to limit all feedback outputs from the system.

16. The system of claim 10, the image forming device being at least one of a printing device, a copying device or media handling device.

17. The system of claim 10, the operating parameter data accompanying user feedback information being extracted from a larger database based on the applicable user interaction timeframe prior to the user providing feedback.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to execute the steps of a method for providing feedback regarding an image forming device comprising:

displaying, on a display device, a prompt for users to submit feedback on a top level print driver page associated with an image forming device;

receiving an electronic request from a particular user to provide feedback regarding interaction between the particular user and the image forming device by actuating the prompt on the top level print driver page;

changing the display on the display device to a formatted feedback form upon the particular user'"'"'s actuation of the prompt by manipulating a user interface associated with the display device;

receiving feedback information provided by the particular user via the particular user'"'"'s manipulation of the user interface;

producing a combined feedback package by combining the received feedback information provided by the particular user with product-generated operating parameter data relevant to a timeframe in which the particular user interacted with the image forming device prior to generating the electronic request to provide feedback, as enabled; and

outputting the combined data feedback package to a reviewing entity for action.