Centralized monitoring and management of peripherals located at multiple sites

• US 20040073720A1
• Filed: 10/09/2002
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Clough, James, Cherry, Darrel
• Granted Patent: US 6,889,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1229 Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1232 Transmitting printer device capabilities, e.g. upon request or periodically
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/044 comprising hierarchical management structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route

Abstract

Various systems and methods are provided for monitoring and supporting a number of peripheral devices. In one embodiment, a network is provided that comprises a local agent in a local server that is in data communication with the number of peripheral devices. An amount of status information is obtained from the peripheral devices and stored in the local server. The network also includes a central monitoring system in a central monitoring server that is in data communication with the local agent. A copy of the status information is transmitted from the local agent to the central monitoring system and stored in the central monitoring server. Also, a status board is maintained by the central monitoring system, the status board indicating at least one service event associated with an operation of at least one of the peripheral devices.

Claims

1. A method for providing support for a number of peripheral devices, comprising:

storing the amount of status information obtained from the peripheral devices in a local server;

transmitting the amount of status information associated with each of the peripheral devices from the local server to a central monitoring server;

storing the amount of status information in the central monitoring server;

analyzing the status information in the central monitoring server to detect an existence of at least one service event associated with an operation of at least one of the peripheral devices; and

maintaining a status board that indicates the at least one service event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a central site contact designation is associated with each of the peripheral devices, the central site contact designation being employed by a user to establish a communication with a support individual that has access to the amount of status information in the central monitoring server.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a request from a central monitoring system in the central monitoring server to a local agent in the local server for the transmission of the amount of status information by the local agent to the central monitoring system.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining in the central monitoring system whether the local agent is operational.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting the at least one service event in a service event alert received from a local agent in the local server, the service event alert indicating the at least one service event.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising including the at least one service event on the status board.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising imposing a delay between the detection of the at least one service event and the inclusion of the at least one service event on the status board to provide a period of time for self-rectification of the at least one service event.

8. A network for providing support for a number of peripheral devices, comprising:

a local agent in a local server that is in data communication with the number of peripheral devices;

an amount of status information obtained from the peripheral devices and stored in the local server;

a central monitoring system in a central monitoring server that is in data communication with the local agent;

a copy of the status information transmitted from the local agent to the central monitoring system and stored in the central monitoring server; and

a status board maintained by the central monitoring system, the status board indicating at least one service event associated with an operation of at least one of the peripheral devices.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein a central site contact designation is associated with each of the peripheral devices, the central site contact designation being employed by a user to establish a communication with a technical support person.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a request that is generated by the central monitoring system and transmitted to the local agent for the transmission of the copy of the status information.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising a service event detected by the central monitoring system.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a service event alert generated by the local agent and transmitted to the central monitoring system, the service event alert indicating the at least one service event, wherein the central monitoring system detects the service event from the service event alert.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the central monitoring system further comprises logic that examines the amount of status information stored in the central monitoring server to detect the existence of the at least one service event.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the central monitoring system includes the at least one service event on the status board.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the central monitoring system imposes a delay between the detection of the at least one service event and the inclusion of the at least one service event on the status board to provide a period of time for self-rectification of the at least one service event.

16. A system for providing support for a number of peripheral devices, comprising:

first means for obtaining and storing an amount of status information from the peripheral devices at a local site;

second means for obtaining and storing a copy of the amount of status information from the first means, the second means being located at a central site; and

status means for indicating at least one service event associated with an operation of at least one of the peripheral devices, the status means being located at the central site.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein a central site contact designation is associated with each of the peripheral devices, the central site contact designation being employed by a user to establish a communication with a support individual located at the central site.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the second means further comprising means for detecting the at least one service event from the copy of the amount of status information obtained and stored by the second means.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the second means further comprises means for generating and transmitting a request to the first means for the transmission of the copy of the status information.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the second means further comprises:

means for including the at least one service event on the status board; and

means for imposing a delay between a detection of the at least one service event and the inclusion of the at least one service event on the status board to provide a period of time for self-rectification of the at least one service event.