Methods and systems for managing print device licenses using a cloud administration system

• US 9,218,578 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2011
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Burke, Robert William Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, King
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lam, Andrew H
• Application Number:
  US13/112,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20120293831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,677 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A cloud administration system for managing a print device license for a remote print device may include a processing module in communication with a plurality of print devices. The processing module may be located remotely from each of the plurality of print devices. The cloud administration system may include a storage module in communication with the processing module. The processing module may be configured to receive a print device license associated with a print device of the plurality of print devices, store the print device license in the storage module, and transmit the print device license to the print device. The cloud administration system may operate as a shared resource for each of the plurality of print devices. The print device license may include instructions for rendering the print device inoperable if the print device does not receive an approval notification from the cloud administration system within a time period.

Claims

1. A cloud administration system for managing a print device license for a remote print device, the cloud administration system comprising:

a processing module in communication with a plurality of print devices, wherein the processing module is located remotely from each of the plurality of print devices; and

a storage module in communication with the processing module, wherein the processing module is configured to;

receive a print device license associated with a print device of the plurality of print devices, wherein the license comprises a term that expires after a first check-in time,

store the print device license in the storage module,

transmit the print device license to the print device,

receive a first check-in request from the print device by the first check-in time,

determine an updated check-in time,

cause the term to be updated by sending the print device an approval notification that comprises the updated check-in time,

in response to not receiving a second check-in request from the print device by the updated check-in time, causing the print device to become disabled,

wherein the cloud administration system operates as a shared resource for each of the plurality of print devices.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing module is further configured to send an approval notification to the print device in response to receiving the check-in request within a grace period after the check-in time.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing module is further configured to enable an application computing device to access the print device license from the storage module.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein causing the print device to become disabled comprises sending a declination notice to the print device, wherein the declination notice comprises one or more of the following:

one or more instructions for removing the license from the print device; and

one or more instructions for disabling the license.

5. A method of managing a print device license, the method comprising:

receiving, by a cloud administration system, from an application computing device associated with a license management service, a print device license that corresponds to a print device, wherein the license comprises a term that expires after a first check-in time;

storing the print device license in a storage module of the cloud administration system;

transmitting, by the cloud administration system, the print device license to a print device in communication with the cloud administration system;

receiving a first check-in request from the print device by the first check-in time;

determining an updated check-in time;

causing the term to be updated by sending the print device an approval notification that comprises the updated check-in time;

in response to not receiving a second check-in request from the print device by the updated check-in time, causing the print device to become disabled;

wherein the application computing device is located remotely from the cloud administration system,

wherein the print device is located remotely from the cloud administration system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the license comprises one or more instructions for disabling the print device comprise one or more instructions for disabling the print device license.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the license comprises one or more instructions for disabling the print device comprise one or more instructions for removing the print device license.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein causing the print device to become disabled comprises sending a declination notice to the print device, wherein the declination notice comprises one or more of the following:

one or more instructions for removing the license from the print device; and

one or more instructions for disabling the license.