Method and apparatus for controlling a document output device with a control request stored at a server
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for controlling a document output device. A control request for controlling the document output device is forwarded from a client device to a server via a network. The control request is stored at the server and communicated to the designated document output device in response to a polling request received via the network from a polling device associated with the designated document output device. Once received, the control request may be carried out at the designated document output device. The control request may include a request for the status of the document output device. The control request may also enable the control of a software function of the document output device, or the updating of firmware and software of the document output device.
1. A method for controlling a document output device, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving a control request at a server for controlling a designated document output device, the server comprising any of a trusted or secure server, the control request sent from a client device to the server via a network;
storing the control request at the server;
receiving a polling request at the server, the polling request sent from a polling device associated with the designated document device to the server via the network;
communicating the control request from the server to any of the designated document output device or the polling device associated with the designated document output device in response the received polling request; and
performing the communicated control request at the designated document output device.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
the document output device comprises at least one of a printer, a copier, or a facsimile machine.
3. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
the control request comprises a request for a status report from the designated document output device; and
the requested status report is provided from the designated document output device to the server.
4. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
the control request comprises a request to manipulate a software controlled function of the designated document output device.
5. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
the polling request is periodically forwarded from the polling device to the server.
6. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
the network comprises at least one of a local area network, a wide area network, a global network, a telephone network, and the Internet.
7. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
the client device may comprise one of a telephone, a computer, an Internet appliance, a personal digital assistant device, or a dedicated terminal.
8. A method for controlling a document output device, comprising the steps of:
forwarding a control request for controlling a designated document output device from a client device to a server via a network;
storing the control request at the server;
communicating the control request to the designated document output device in response to a polling request received via the network from a polling device associated with the designated document output device, wherein the polling device is one of (i) a stand-alone device connected to the document output device via one of a USB port or a bi-directional parallel port, (ii) integrated into the firmware of the document output device, or (iii) integrated into the software of a local network server; and
performing the control request at the designated document output device.
9. A method in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the control request comprises a request for a status report from the designated document output device, wherein the requested status report is provided from the designated document output device to the server, and wherein the method further comprises the step of:
downloading the status report from the server via at least one of the client device, a telephone, a computer, an Internet appliance, or a personal digital assistant.
10. A method in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the control request comprises a request for a status report from the designated document output device, wherein the requested status report is provided from the designated document output device to the server, and wherein the request for a status report comprises at least one of a request for a count of pages copied, a request for a count of pages printed, a request for a toner level, a request for drum usage, a request for a paper supply level, a request for error information, a request for an on-line or off-line indication, a request for a device ready indication, a request for a paper jam indication, or a request for a media mismatch indication.
11. A method in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the control request comprises a request to manipulate a software controlled function of the designated document output device, wherein the software controlled function comprises one of adjusting offsets, adjusting timings, raising temperature of fuser oil, adjusting imageable area, or configuring installed media.
12. A method in accordance with claim 8 , wherein:
the control request comprises a firmware update for the designated document output device.
13. A method in accordance with claim 8 , wherein:
the polling device is located within a gateway firewall; and
the server is located outside the gateway firewall.
14. A method in accordance with claim 8 , wherein:
the client device is located at and in communication with a first local area network;
the polling device is located at and in communication with a second local area network; and
the server is located outside of the first and second local area networks.
15. A method in accordance with claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
providing the polling device with a unique identifier; and
associating the control request with a designated document output device according to the unique identifier of the polling device;
wherein the control request is stored at the server in accordance with the unique identifier.
16. A method in accordance with claim 8 , wherein:
the polling device is associated with more than one document output device.
17. A method in accordance with claim 10 , wherein:
the status report includes vendor contact information to facilitate obtaining supplies or service for the designated document output device.
18. A method in accordance with claim 10 , further comprising the step of:
providing for automatic on-line ordering of supplies for the designated document output device in response to the status report.
19. A method in accordance with claim 13 , wherein:
the control request is forwarded to the server as web-style traffic and received at the polling device as web-style traffic.
20. A method in accordance with claim 13 , wherein:
the control request is forwarded by the server to the polling device such that reconfiguration of the gateway firewall is not required.
21. A method in accordance with claim 14 , wherein:
the client device communicates with the server via a first gateway firewall that controls access to the first local area network; and
the polling device communicates with the server via a second gateway firewall that controls access to the second local area network.
22. A method in accordance with claim 15 , wherein:
the unique identifier of the polling device comprises one of a media access ID, an IP address, a telephone number, a serial number of the polling device, a serial number of the document output device associated with the polling device, or a vendor supplied identification.
23. A polling device associated with a designated document output device for enabling control of the designated document output device, the polling device comprising:
a transmitter for forwarding a polling request to a server over a network to identify a control request stored at the server for the designated document output device, wherein the server comprises any of a trusted or secure server;
a receiver for receiving the control request from the server at the polling device in response to the polling request; and
an interface with the designated document output device for communicating the control request to the designated document output device for performance of the received control request.
24. A polling device in accordance with claim 23 , wherein:
the document output device comprises at least one of a printer, a copier, or a facsimile machine.
25. A polling device in accordance with claim 23 , wherein:
the control request comprises a request for a status report from the designated document output device; and
the requested status report is provided from the designated document output device to the server.
26. A polling device in accordance with claim 23 , wherein:
the control request comprises a request to manipulate a software controlled function of the designated document output device.
27. A polling device in accordance with claim 23 , wherein:
the polling request is periodically forwarded from the polling device to the server.
28. A polling device in accordance with claim 23 , wherein:
the network comprises at least one of a local area network, a wide area network, a global network, a telephone network, and the Internet.
29. A polling device in accordance with claim 23 , wherein:
the server receives the control request from a client device via the network.
30. A polling device in accordance with claim 23 , wherein:
the server receives the control request from a client device via the network; and
the client device may comprise one of a telephone, a computer, an Internet appliance, a personal digital assistant device, or a dedicated terminal.
31. A polling device associated with a designated document output device for enabling control of the designated document output device, the polling device comprising:
a transmitter for forwarding a polling request to a server over a network to identify a control request stored at the server for the designated document output device;
a receiver for receiving the control request from the server at the polling device in response to the polling request; and
an interface with the designated document output device for communicating the control request to the designated document output device for performance of the control request;
wherein the polling device is one of (i) a stand-alone device connected to the document output device via one of a USB port or a bi-directional parallel port, (ii) integrated into the firmware of the document output device, or (iii) integrated into the software of a local network server.
32. A polling device in accordance with claim 31 , wherein the control request comprises a request for a status report from the designated document output device, wherein the requested status report is provided from the designated document output device to the server, and wherein the status report is downloaded from the server via at least one of a client device that forwarded the control request to the server, a telephone, a computer, an Internet appliance, or a personal digital assistant.
33. A polling device in accordance with claim 31 , wherein the control request comprises a request for a status report from the designated document output device, wherein the requested status report is provided from the designated document output device to the server, and wherein the request for a status report comprises at least one of a request for a count of pages copied, a request for a count of pages printed, a request for a toner level, a request for drum usage, a request for a paper supply level, a request for error information, a request for an on-line or off-line indication, a request for a device ready indication, a request for a paper jam indication, or a request for a media mismatch indication.
34. A polling device in accordance with claim 31 , wherein the control request comprises a request to manipulate a software controlled function of the designated document output device, wherein the software controlled function comprises one of adjusting offsets, adjusting timings, raising temperature of fuser oil, adjusting imageable area, or configuring installed media.
35. A polling device in accordance with claim 31 , wherein:
the control request comprises a firmware update for the designated document output device.
36. A polling device in accordance with claim 31 , wherein:
the polling device is located within a gateway firewall; and
the server is located outside the gateway firewall.
37. A polling device in accordance with claim 31 , wherein:
the server receives the control request from a client device via the network;
the client device is located at and in communication with a first local area network;
the polling device is located at and in communication with a second local area network; and
the server is located outside of the first and second local area networks.
38. A polling device in accordance with claim 31 , wherein:
the polling device is provided with a unique identifier;
the control request is associated with a designated document output device according to the unique identifier of the polling device; and
the control request is stored at the server in accordance with the unique identifier.
39. A polling device in accordance with claim 31 , wherein:
the polling device is associated with more than one document output device.
40. A polling device in accordance with claim 33 , wherein:
the status report includes vendor contact information to facilitate obtaining supplies or service for the designated document output device.
41. A polling device in accordance with claim 33 , wherein:
automatic on-line ordering of supplies for the designated document output device is provided in response to the status report.
42. A polling device in accordance with claim 36 , wherein:
the control request is forwarded to the server as web-style traffic and received at the polling device as web-style traffic.
43. A polling device in accordance with claim 36 , wherein:
the control request is forwarded by the server to the polling device such that reconfiguration of the gateway firewall is not required.
44. A polling device in accordance with claim 37 , wherein:
the client device communicates with the server via a first gateway firewall that controls access to the first local area network; and
the polling device communicates with the server via a second gateway firewall that controls access to the second local area network.
45. A polling device in accordance with claim 38 , wherein:
the unique identifier of the polling device comprises one of a media access ID, an IP address, a telephone number, a serial number of the polling device, a serial number of the document output device associated with the polling device, or a vendor supplied identification.