Error code indexing and interpretation apparatus and method

• US 6,934,890 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2001
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Lopke, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonzo, Bryce P.
• Application Number:
  US09/815,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20020133755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,618 Days
• Field of Search: 714/5, 714/57, 714/48, 714/44
• US Class Current: 714/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0733 in a data processing system embedded in an image processing device, e.g. printer, facsimile, scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0748 in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault remote testing G06F11/2294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0769 Readable error formats, e.g. cross-platform generic formats, human understandable formats
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2252 using fault dictionaries

Abstract

Error code indexing and interpretation apparatus (10) includes a first device (12) containing operating error codes (14) and configured to send an error code (14) on the occasion of a first device (12) operating error. A second device (16) is connected to the first device (12) and contains first device parameters (28). Second device (16) sends and receives information and is configured to join the error code (14) with the device parameters (28) and to alert a user upon receipt of an error code (14) from first device (12). A device error code database (30) is connected to the second device (16) for storing an index of device error codes (34) and associated error code correction procedures (36). Device error code database (30) is configured to display an associated error code correction procedure (36) upon the receipt of an error code (14) joined with the device parameters (28).

Claims

1. In integrated machine systems wish multiple devices, an error code indexing and interpretation apparatus comprising:

a) a first device containing operating error codes configured to send an error code on the occasion of a first device operating error;

b) a second device connected to said first device, containing first device parameters wherein said first device parameters are selected from a group consisting of;

product type, product family, product configuration and product software, for sending and receiving information configured to join said error code with said device parameters and to alert a user upon receipt of an error code from said first device; and

c) a device error code database connected to said second device for storing an index of device error codes and associated error code correction procedures for devices, configured to display an associated error code correction procedure upon the receipt of an error code joined with the first device parameters.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second device is connected to said device error code database through a remote network.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the remote network includes intranet and Internet connections.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second device is connected to the device error code database through a web site on the Internet.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising multiple first devices.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first device resides on said second device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first device and said device error code database reside on said second device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first device is selected from a group including:

printer, scanner, mopier/copier, facsimile and phone.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second device is a PC.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the connections are wireless.

11. In an electronically integrated business system with multiple business machines, an error code indexing and interpretation apparatus comprising:

a) a plurality of first machines containing operating error codes configured to send an error code on the occasion of a first machine operating error;

b) a second machine, containing first machine parameters wherein said first machines parameters are selected from a group consisting of;

product type, product family, product configuration and product software, connected to said first machines for receiving and transmitting information, configured to join said operating error code with the appropriate first machine parameters upon receipt of an error code from a first machine;

c) a machine error code database connected to said second machine for indexing error codes for machines and storing associated error code correction procedures, configured to display the associated error code correction procedure upon receipt of the error code joined with the appropriate first machine parameters from said second machine.

12. In an electronically integrated business system with multiple business devices, a method of indexing and interpreting error codes comprising the steps of:

a) providing at least one first machine with error codes;

b) configuring the first machine to send an error code on the occasion of a first machine operating error;

c) connecting a second machine, for sending and receiving information, to the first machine and storing first machine parameters on said second machine wherein said first machine parameters are selected from a group consisting of;

product type, product family, product configuration and product software;

d) configuring the second machine to join the error code with the appropriate first machine parameters on receipt of the error code from a first machine;

e) connecting a machine error code database to the second machine and storing an index of machine error codes and associated error code correction procedures on the machine error code database; and

f) configuring the machine error code database to display an associated error code correction procedure upon receipt of an error code joined with the appropriate, machine parameters.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of connecting the second machine to the machine error code database through a network.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of selecting the network from a group of networks including intranet and Internet.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of selecting the at least one first machine from a group including:

printer, spanner, mopier/copier, facsimile and phone.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of connecting the second machine to the machine error code database through a web site on the Internet.

17. In an electronically integrated business system with multiple business devices, computer code recorded on computer readable medium for indexing and interpreting error codes comprising:

a) computer code for a plurality of first machines containing operating error codes and for configuring the first machines to send an error code on the occasion of a first machine operating error;

b) computer code for a second machine for receiving and sending data, linked to said plurality of first machines, an for storing parameters for said first machines, wherein said first machines parameters are selected from a group consisting of;

product type, product family, product configuration and product software, and joining an error code with the appropriate first machine parameters and for alerting a user upon receipt of the error code; and

c) computer code for a machine error code database linked to said second machine for indexing machine error codes and storing associated error code correction procedures and for identifying the associated error correction procedure in response to the receipt of a particular error code joined with the appropriate first machine parameters from said second machine.

18. The invention of claim 17 further comprising computer code for connecting the plurality of first machines and the second machine through a network.

19. The invention of claim 17 further comprising computer code for connecting the second machine to the machine error code database through a website on the Internet.

20. The invention of claim 17 wherein the computer code for the plurality of first machines includes computer code for machines from a group including:

printer, scanner, mopier/copier, facsimile, and phone.