SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MESSAGE BASED DETERMINATION OF PRINTER CAPABILITIES
Methods disclosed facilitate the obtaining of printer information using commonly available messaging techniques such as e-mail. In some embodiments, the method comprises receiving an email message, wherein the e-mail message includes at least one query requesting information about at least one sub-state of a printer, wherein the printer state is comprised of a plurality of sub-states and the at least one sub-state is one of the plurality of printer sub-states. Information pertaining to the at least one sub-state is obtained and a response is sent to the e-mail request. The e-mail response can include information pertaining to the at least one sub-state.
1 . A processor implemented method for obtaining printer state related information pertaining to at least one printer, wherein the printer state is comprised of a plurality of sub-states, the method comprising the processor-implemented steps of:
receiving an email message, wherein the e-mail message comprises at least one query requesting information about at least one sub-state of the printer, wherein the at least one sub-state is one of the plurality of printer sub-states;
obtaining information pertaining to the at least one sub-state; and
responding to the e-mail request, wherein the e-mail response comprises information pertaining to the at least one sub-state.
2 . The processor implemented method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining information pertaining to the at least one sub-state comprises:
parsing the e-mail message to extract information pertaining to the at least one sub-state;
generating a MIB request for information pertaining to the at least one sub-state, wherein the MIB request is based on the extracted information; and
parsing the response to the MIB request to extract requested information pertaining to the at least one sub-state.
3 . The processor implemented method of claim 1 , wherein information pertaining to the at least one sub-state comprises at least one of
printer capability information,
printer configuration information, or
printer status information.
4 . The processor implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed on at least one of:
a printer;
a print controller; or
a printer coupled to a print controller.
5 . The processor-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the received e-mail message is sent from a computing device.
6 . The processor-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the computing device is a smart phone.
7 . The processor-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein responding to the e-mail request comprises:
determining a user-group associated with the sender of the received e-mail message;
ascertaining if any restrictions associated with the user group apply to the information pertaining to the at least one sub-state;
redacting information from the information pertaining to the at least one sub-state in accordance with the restrictions associated with the user group; and
responding to the e-mail request using the redacted information.
8 . The processor-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein responding to the e-mail request comprises sending help information to sender, if the received e-mail message is incoherent.
9 . A computer-readable medium including program instructions, which when executed by a computer, perform steps in a method for obtaining printer state related information pertaining to at least one printer, wherein the printer state is comprised of a plurality of sub-states, the steps comprising:
receiving an email message, wherein the e-mail message comprises at least one query requesting information about at least one sub-state of the printer, wherein the at least one sub-state is one of the plurality of printer sub-states;
obtaining information pertaining to the at least one sub-state; and
responding to the e-mail request, wherein the e-mail response comprises information pertaining to the at least one sub-state.
10 . The computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein obtaining information pertaining to the at least one sub-state comprises:
parsing the e-mail message to extract information pertaining to the at least one sub-state;
generating a MIB request for information pertaining to the at least one sub-state, wherein the MIB request is based on the extracted information; and
parsing the response to the MIB request to extract requested information pertaining to the at least one sub-state.
11 . The computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein information pertaining to the at least one sub-state comprises at least one of
printer capability information,
printer configuration information, or
printer status information.
12 . The computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the method is performed on at least one of:
a printer;
a print controller; or
a printer coupled to a print controller.
13 . The computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the received e-mail message is sent from a computing device.
14 . The computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the computing device is a smart phone.
15 . The computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein responding to the e-mail request comprises:
determining a user-group associated with the sender of the received e-mail message;
ascertaining if any restrictions associated with the user group apply to the information pertaining to the at least one sub-state;
redacting information from the information pertaining to the at least one sub-state in accordance with the restrictions associated with the user group; and
responding to the e-mail request using the redacted information.
16 . The computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein responding to the e-mail request comprises sending help information to sender, if the received e-mail message is incoherent.
17 . A computer-readable memory including program instructions, which when executed by a computer, perform steps in a method for obtaining printer state related information pertaining to at least one printer, wherein the printer state is comprised of a plurality of sub-states, the steps comprising:
receiving an email message, wherein the e-mail message comprises at least one query requesting information about at least one sub-state of the printer, wherein the printer state is comprised of a plurality of sub-states and the at least one sub-state is one of the plurality of printer sub-states;
obtaining information pertaining to the at least one sub-state; and
responding to the e-mail request, wherein the e-mail response comprises information pertaining to the at least one sub-state.
18 . The computer-readable memory of claim 17 , wherein obtaining information pertaining to the at least one sub-state comprises:
parsing the e-mail message to extract information pertaining to the at least one sub-state;
generating a MIB request for information pertaining to the at least one sub-state, wherein the MIB request is based on the extracted information; and
parsing the response to the MIB request to extract requested information pertaining to the at least one sub-state.
19 . The computer-readable memory of claim 17 , wherein information pertaining to the at least one sub-state comprises at least one of
printer capability information,
printer configuration information, or
printer status information.
20 . The computer-readable memory of claim 17 , wherein the method is performed on at least one of:
a printer;
a print controller; or
a printer coupled to a print controller.
21 . The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the received e-mail message is sent from a smart phone.