Distributed primary device data collector with failover operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016283167-A1
Application number	US-201514859478-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 21, 2015
Priority date	Mar 24, 2015
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A network document processing device includes an embedded controller. The controller monitors one or more document processing devices occurring on the device. The controller is further operable to probe one or more networked document processing devices to determine if it or they are operable to monitoring other network document processing devices. If not, the controller suitably undertakes monitoring of some or all of the networked devices. This monitoring may be concluded when another document processing device becomes active. Multiple document processing devices may also share all or part of monitoring of document processing devices for redundancy, load sharing or integrity checking

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A document processing device comprising:
an embedded controller including a processor and a memory in data communication with the processor, the memory operable for storage of data and instructions; a network interface configured for data communication with a plurality of networked document processing devices via an associated network; and a monitor configured to monitor internal document processing operations completed by the document processing device, wherein the memory is further configured for storing identity data representative of at least a second networked document processing device configured for processing of device operation data for the plurality of networked document processing devices, and wherein the embedded controller is configured to
generate internal device operation data in accordance with an output of the monitor,
receive, via the network interface, networked device operation data corresponding to associated document processing operations from at least a second document processing device of the plurality of networked document processing devices,
initiate a probe, via the network interface, to the second networked document processing device in accordance with the identity data to determine whether the second networked document processing device is operational for processing of device operation data from the plurality of networked document processing devices, and
process internal and networked device operation data when the probe indicates that the second networked document processing device is not operational for processing thereof.

2 . The document processing device of claim 1 wherein the embedded controller is further configured to initiate the probe in accordance with a prescribed timing.

3 . The document processing device of claim 2 wherein the networked device operation data includes data associated with document processing operations completed on each of the plurality of networked document processing devices.

4 . The document processing device of claim 3 wherein
the embedded controller is further configured for data communication with an associated administrative control terminal via the network interface,
the embedded controller is further configured to receive parameter data from the administrative control terminal, and
the embedded controller is further configured to receive the networked device operation data from at least a subset of the plurality of networked document processing devices in accordance with received parameter data.

5 . The document processing device of claim 2 wherein the embedded controller is further configured to cede processing of the networked device operation data when probe results indicate that the second networked document processing device is operational.

6 . The document processing device of claim 2 wherein the embedded controller is further configured to receive data corresponding to the prescribed timing from the associated administrative control terminal via the network interface.

7 . The document processing device of claim 2 wherein the embedded controller is further configured to receive content data specifying content of the networked device operation data from the associated administrative control terminal via the network interface.

8 . A method comprising:
monitoring internal document processing operations by a document processing device; generating internal device operation data corresponding to monitored internal document processing operations on the document processing device on an integrated controller, the controller including a processor and an associated memory; generating a probe, via the integrated controller, the probe including probe data corresponding to operation of at least a second document processing device of a networked plurality thereof; outputting the probe data on to an associated network via a network interface; receiving remote device operation data via the network interface from at least one networked document processing device when the probe yields that the at least a second document processing device is not operational for processing of document operation data; and responsive to receiving the remote device operation data, processing internal and networked device operation data via the integrated controller.

9 . The method of claim 8 wherein monitoring internal document processing operations includes monitoring of photocopying, printing, faxing or scanning operations.

10 . The method of claim 8 further comprising:
generating the internal device operation data inclusive of internal page count data;
receiving the networked device operation data inclusive of networked page count data; and
outputting report data comprising processed internal and networked device operation data.

11 . The method of claim 10 further comprising communicating the report data to an associated administrator.

12 . The method of claim 8 wherein monitoring internal document processing operations includes monitoring of document processing operation consumables.

13 . The method of claim 12 wherein monitoring of document processing operations includes monitoring of at least one of paper, ink or toner.

14 . A document processing device comprising:
a controller including a processor and a memory in data communication with the processor, the memory configured for storage of data and instructions; a network interface configured for data communication with a plurality of locally networked document processing devices via an associated local area network and further configured for data communication, via an associated wide area network interface, with a plurality of remote document processing devices associated with a remote local area network; and a monitor configured to monitor document processing operations completed by the document processing device, wherein the memory is further configured for storing identity data representative a second networked document processing device operable for processing of device operation data for multiple networked document processing devices, and wherein the controller is configured to
generate internal device operation data in accordance with an output of the monitor,
receive, via the network interface, remote device operation data corresponding to associated document processing operations from at least one document processing device within the local area network and at least one document processing device within the remote area network via the wide area network,
process internal device operation data, p 2 initiate a probe, via the network interface, to the second networked document processing device in accordance with the identity data to determine whether the second networked document processing device is operational for processing of device operation data from a plurality of networked document processing devices, and
process internal and remote device operation data when the probe indicates that the second networked document processing device is not operational for processing thereof.

15 . The document processing device of claim 14 wherein the controller is further configured to initiate the probe to the second networked document processing device via the wide area network interface.

16 . The document processing device of claim 14 wherein the controller is further configured to initiate the probe as a Simple Network Management Protocol Request (SNMP) request.

17 . The document processing device of claim 14 wherein
the controller is further configured to receive ordered device li

Assignees

• Toshiba Kk
• Toshiba Tec Kk

Inventors

• Yeung Michael

Classifications

• G06F3/1226

  Discovery of devices having required properties · CPC title

• G06F3/1236

  Connection management · CPC title

• G06F3/1259

  Print job monitoring, e.g. job status · CPC title

• G06F3/1203 Primary

  Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management · CPC title

• G06Q10/087 Primary

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title