U.S. patent application number 14/472444 was filed with the patent office on 2014-12-18 for print management system and method.
The applicant listed for this patent is JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.. Invention is credited to Michael Aguiling, Ayan Bandopadhyay, Jonathan Baum, Michael Borress.
Application Number | 20140368858 14/472444 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51626975 |
Filed Date | 2014-12-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140368858 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Aguiling; Michael ; et
al. |
December 18, 2014 |
PRINT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention include a computer-implemented
control and monitoring method and system for print shop management.
The method may include monitoring multiple print servers and
insertion devices for inserting printed material into envelopes.
Programmed computer processing components may be used for
performing steps including receiving print status data and
insertion status data from multiple printing and insertion sites,
and matching the print data with the insertion data for each
submitted print job and integrating the print status data with the
insertion data. The method additionally includes providing a user
application including multiple user interfaces displaying the
integrated print status data and insertion status data in an
interactive format.
Inventors: |
Aguiling; Michael; (Tappan,
NY) ; Borress; Michael; (Old Bridge, NJ) ;
Baum; Jonathan; (Brooklyn, NY) ; Bandopadhyay;
Ayan; (Lewis Center, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. |
New York |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51626975 |
Appl. No.: |
14/472444 |
Filed: |
August 29, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13273274 |
Oct 14, 2011 |
8854662 |
|
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14472444 |
|
|
|
|
61393466 |
Oct 15, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
358/1.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/1282 20130101;
G06F 3/1208 20130101; G06F 3/1285 20130101; G06F 3/1275 20130101;
G06F 3/1259 20130101; G06K 15/007 20130101; G06F 3/1207 20130101;
G06F 3/1204 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
358/1.13 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/12 20060101
G06F003/12; G06K 15/00 20060101 G06K015/00 |
Claims
1. A computer-implemented control and monitoring system for
facilitating print job management and monitoring multiple
geographically dispersed printers, the system monitoring at least
one print server and at least one insertion device for inserting
printed material into envelopes, the system comprising: a print
data collection processor communicating with the at least one print
server, the print data collection processor implementing a data
collection process for collecting print status data; insertion data
collection processing components communicating with the at least
one insertion device for collecting insertion status data; data
integration components for automatically integrating the collected
insertion status data with the collected print status data; and a
user application including multiple user interfaces for displaying
the integrated print status data and insertion status data in an
interactive format, wherein the multiple user interfaces include a
statement processing dashboard having multiple selectable views,
the views including at least a job monitoring view, a product
monitoring view, and a site monitoring view.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interfaces further
include a printer map view, wherein the printer map view displays a
location marker for each geographic location of the multiple
geographically dispersed printers.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the printer map view provides a
search function for locating a specific printer, wherein each
printer can be searched by printer name, serial number, location,
and IP address.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein each location marker is
selectable and selection of a location marker generates a printer
monitoring view for printers in the selected location.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the printer monitoring view
produces printer information including at least printer identifying
information, location information, printer status, pages printed,
and alert status.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the alert status includes one of
supply alerts, advisory alerts, service errors, media path alerts,
and service alerts.
7. (canceled)
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the product monitoring view shows
completion status of both print and insertion processes for a
selected product.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes an
insertion floor status interface, wherein each insertion floor is
viewable upon site selection.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the insertion floor user
interface provides a completion status of each inserter.
11. The system of claim 1, the system additionally includes at
least one image capturing device interfacing with the insertion
data processor for capturing device real time images of the
insertion process in a given location.
12. A computer-implemented control and monitoring method for print
shop management of multiple geographically dispersed printers, the
method monitoring at least one print server and at least one
insertion device for inserting printed material into envelopes, the
method comprising: implementing programmed computer processing
components for performing steps including, communicating with the
at least one print server for collecting print status data;
communicating with the at least one insertion device for collecting
insertion status data; automatically integrating the collected
insertion status data with the collected print status data; and
providing a user application including multiple user interfaces for
displaying the integrated print status data and insertion status
data in an interactive format, wherein the multiple user interfaces
further display multiple selectable views, the views including at
least a job monitoring view, a product monitoring view, and a site
monitoring view.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a printer
map view, wherein the printer map view displays a location marker
for each geographic location of the multiple geographically
dispersed printers.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a search
function on the printer map view for locating a specific printer,
wherein each printer can be searched by printer name, serial
number, location, and IP address.
15. The method of claim 13, further comprising generating
selectable location markers, wherein selection of a location marker
generates a printer monitoring view for printers in the selected
location.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising producing printer
information in the printer monitoring view, wherein the printer
information includes at least printer identifying information,
location information, printer status, pages printed, and alert
status.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing the alert
status including one of supply alerts, advisory alerts, service
errors, media path alerts, and service alerts.
18. (canceled)
19. The method of claim 12, wherein the product monitoring view
shows completion status of both print and insertion processes for
the selected product.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing an
insertion floor status interface, wherein each insertion floor is
viewable upon site selection.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the insertion floor user
interface provides a completion status of each inserter.
22. The method of claim 21, further comprising implementing an at
least one image capturing device interfacing with the insertion
data processor for capturing real time images of the insertion
process in a given location.
23. A computer-implemented control and monitoring method for print
shop management, the method monitoring multiple print servers and
insertion devices for inserting printed material into envelopes,
the method comprising: implementing programmed computer processing
components for performing steps including, receiving print status
data and insertion status data from the multiple printing and
insertion sites; matching the print data with the insertion data
for each submitted print job and integrating the print status data
with the insertion status data; and providing a user application
including multiple user interfaces displaying the integrated print
status data and insertion status data in an interactive format; and
providing a statement processing dashboard having multiple
selectable views, the views including at least a job monitoring
view, a product monitoring view, and a site monitoring view.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application hereby incorporates by reference and claims
priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/393,466
filed on Oct. 15, 2010.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] Embodiments of the invention are related generally to
systems and methods for print shop management and in particular to
automated processing and monitoring through the use of a dashboard
providing collected data from multiple processes for monitoring and
manipulation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Corporations often process and send printed materials to
customers and potential customers. Management of the creation and
distribution of the printed materials requires oversight of: (1)
the print cycle; and (2) insertion of printed materials into
envelopes. In current management systems, these two processes as
separately managed and do not communicate with one another.
Furthermore, the monitoring of each of the processes is entirely
manual so that the status is normally determined by an employee
viewing the printing machines and the insertion process.
[0004] Currently, status updates may take the form of printed
reports or writing results on white boards. An employee may use a
white board to record current printing status and make periodic
updates. These white boards are typically updated periodically
during the day, for example, three times daily.
[0005] In order to consolidate information, a whiteboard and/or
report for the print cycle and a white board and/or report for
insertion may be periodically recorded and compared. For example,
for the print cycle, the data is often loaded into a spreadsheet
and may ultimately be incorporated in a paper report through the
use of an automated document factory (ADF) workflow. However, the
information collected by the ADF during the pint cycle does not
provide visibility into the insertion location. The ADF knows which
jobs are at the insertion location, but cannot report on the
progress of each job. Thus, a manager of the printing process has
no insight into progress of the insertion process and vice
versa.
[0006] Thus, a system is needed that provides insight into both
insertion and printing processes for viewing and usage by print
shop management. Such a system should facilitate collection of
information from both workflow processes and compilation of the
collected information in a configuration useful for management.
Furthermore, the system should enable real time updates to create
an opportunity for efficient management.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In one aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented
control and monitoring method is provided for print shop
management. The method includes monitoring multiple print servers
and insertion devices for inserting printed material into
envelopes. Programmed computer processing components perform
multiple steps including receiving print status data and insertion
status data from multiple printing and insertion sites. The steps
further include matching the print data with the insertion data for
each submitted print job, integrating the print status data with
the insertion data, and providing a user application including
multiple selectable user interfaces displaying the integrated print
status data and insertion status data in an interactive format.
[0008] In another aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented
control and monitoring system is provided for facilitating print
job management. The system monitors at least one print server and
at least one insertion device for inserting printed material into
envelopes and includes a print data collection processor
communicating with the at least one print server, the print data
collection processor implementing a data collection process for
collecting print status data. The system additionally includes
insertion data collection processing components communicating with
the at least one insertion device for collecting insertion status
data and data integration components for automatically integrating
the collected insertion status data with the collected print status
data. The system further includes a user application including
multiple user interfaces for displaying the integrated print status
data and insertion status data in an interactive format.
[0009] In a further aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented
control and monitoring method for print shop management is
provided, the method monitoring at least one print server and at
least one insertion device for inserting printed material into
envelopes. The method includes implementing programmed computer
processing components for performing multiple steps including
communicating with the at least one print server for collecting
print status data, communicating with the at least one insertion
device for collecting insertion status data, and automatically
integrating the collected insertion status data with the collected
print status data. The method also provides a user application for
including multiple user interfaces for displaying the integrated
print status data and insertion status data in an interactive
format.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The present invention is described in detail below with
reference to the attached drawings figures, wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an operating
environment for a control and monitoring system in accordance with
an embodiment of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating workflow in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a workflow method in
a control and monitoring system in accordance with an embodiment of
the invention;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a workflow method
within an ADF of the control and monitoring system in accordance
with an embodiment of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a user interface enabled by an inserter
productivity monitoring and control system in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a user interface illustrating a site view within a
statement processing dashboard in accordance with an embodiment of
the invention;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a user interface illustrating a product view
within a statement processing dashboard in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a user interface illustrating a map view within a
print dashboard in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a user interface illustrating an additional map
view within a print dashboard in accordance with an embodiment of
the invention;
[0020] FIG. 10 is a user interface illustrating a more detailed map
view in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0021] FIG. 11 is a user interface illustrating a printer
monitoring view within a print dashboard in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention; and
[0022] FIG. 12 is a chart illustrating information available
through user interfaces in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention; and
[0023] FIG. 13 is a chart illustrating alerts available through
user interfaces in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a
system and method for process flow management for printing
services. The system and method incorporate a user interface
dashboard system that depicts collected real time data for user
viewing and manipulation. Embodiments of the invention extract data
from various print jobs and combine the collected print job data
with data from envelope insertions and provide an end to end
process flow management system that may be accessible over the
Internet. The system may additionally include or be integrated with
cameras at the printing and/or insertion sites so that a person
viewing the dashboard remotely could have a real time view of the
printing and insertion processes.
[0025] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an operating
environment for a control and monitoring system in accordance with
an embodiment of the invention External data sources 20, print
systems 30, insertion systems 40, control and monitoring system 50,
and user stations 60 may be connected over a network 10.
[0026] The network 10 may be or include any known network. Various
networks may be implemented in accordance with embodiments of the
invention, including a wired or wireless local area network (LAN)
and a wide area network (WAN), wireless personal area network (PAN)
and other types of networks. When used in a LAN networking
environment, computers may be connected to the LAN through a
network interface or adapter. When used in a WAN networking
environment, computers typically include a modem or other
communication mechanism. Computers may be connected over the
Internet, an Intranet, Extranet, Ethernet, or any other system that
provides communications. Some suitable communications protocols may
include TCP/IP, UDP, or OSI for example. For wireless
communications, communications protocols may include Bluetooth,
Zigbee, IrDa or other suitable protocol. Furthermore, components of
the system may communicate through a combination of wired or
wireless paths. Although the components are shown to be connected
over network 130, the components may be connected directly or over
multiple networks. Alternatively, some components may be combined
so as to be integral with one another.
[0027] The external data sources 20 may include data warehouses,
databases, and other external sources. The sources may include
equipment manufacturers information, print information, inserter
information, and useful information that is available internally or
externally to the organization. A configuration management database
(CMDB) may be provided to include a repository of information
related to all the components of the system including the IT
infrastructure.
[0028] The print system 30 could include one printer and one and
one inserter. However, embodiments of the invention are best
adapted for and most useful in situations where the print system 30
includes multiple printers at multiple geographic locations across
the United States and/or across the world. The printers may include
multiple different brands and models of printers.
[0029] The insertion systems 40 are provided on a scale to
accommodate the print systems 30. The insertion systems 40 are
provided in order to insert printed materials into envelopes for
mailing and/or delivery to their final destinations.
[0030] The control and monitoring system 50 serves to control and
integrate the functions of the print system 30 and the insertion
system 40. As will be described in greater detail below, the
control and monitoring system 50 integrates collected data and
provides a user application that enables viewing of multiple user
interfaces that provide status data pertaining to the print and
insertion systems 30 and 40.
[0031] The user stations 60 may be provided to enable viewing of
the collected integrated data by managers and other print
personnel. The viewing may occur on any type of computing device or
screen receiving data from a processing machine or computing
device, as will further be described below. Various user interfaces
created through the control and monitoring system 50 enable
simplified access to information at the multiple printing and
insertion sites.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating workflow in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention. External data
sources 200 provide information to control and monitoring system
210. The control and monitoring system 210 controls and monitors
print systems 220 and insertion systems 230. An embodiment of the
components of the control and monitoring system 210 is illustrated
in FIG. 3.
[0033] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a workflow method in
a control and monitoring system in accordance with an embodiment of
the invention. The control and monitoring system shown in FIG. 3
may include an ADF 320 and an inserter productivity monitoring and
control system 330. In operation, the ADF 320 and the inserter
productivity monitoring and control system 330 provide real time
updates to the dashboard system 310 for integration and display.
Although the components of the control and monitoring system are
shown as directly communicating with one another, they may be
connected with each other over one or more networks.
[0034] The above-described components may be located in the same or
different locations. They may collect the aforementioned data and
send it over one or more networks to a remote location for
integration and creation of user interfaces.
[0035] In operation, data from the printing systems and insertion
systems may be collected and transmitted to the control and
monitoring system by various mechanisms including video cameras
installed at the respective sites. Data may also be collected by
computing systems or on site personnel. As further explained below,
the ADF 320 operates to transfer printed material from printing to
insertion processes. The ADF 320 and inserter productivity
monitoring and control system 330 may include computer hardware and
software configured to process the data collected from the printing
system and insertion systems. The ADF 320 and inserter productivity
monitoring system 330 may further include or interface with one or
more databases for managing collected data. The dashboard system
330 may integrated the collected status data provide the data in
the form of selectable user interfaces as will be further described
with reference to FIGS. 5-13.
[0036] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a user interface 400
showing a workflow method within the ADF of the control and
monitoring system in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention. The ADF is an architecture that addresses the unique
problems encountered in high volume document production
environments especially but not limited to printing and mailing
operations. Enterprises use the ADF architecture to provide the
foundation for document production operations, such as transaction
printing (bills, checks, policies, etc.) and/or marketing
collateral (brochures, literature, etc.). Hardware and software
technology providers use the ADF architecture to frame the products
and features they offer to the print operations The modules of the
ADF are tied together with interfaces that ensure that the outputs
of a preceding module match the input requirements for the next
module.
[0037] Available system actions achievable through the user
interface are shown at 402. Processes executed by the ADF and the
status of each process are shown adjacent the system actions.
Process 404 and Process 406 are Receive Print and Receive Files
processes respectively. Process 404 may be for the advanced
function printing (AFP) and process 406 may be for the control
files that match to the AFP. AFP is a family of associated printer
software and hardware that provides document and information
presentation control independent of specific applications and
devices. Using AFP, users can control formatting, the form of paper
output, whether a document is to be printed or viewed online, and
manage document storage and access in a distributed network across
multiple operating system platforms. AFP is primarily used in large
enterprises with printer rooms and expensive high-speed printers.
AFP applications allow users or print room operators to distributed
print jobs among a group of printers and to designate backup
printers when one fails.
[0038] Process 404 examines the AFP, indexes it, and loads data
about the jobs and mail pieces into an ADF database and performs
transforms if necessary. Such data may include, for example, the
name of the job, the number of pages, line of business or other
data? Process 406 examines the control files and also loads the ADF
database. Once the control file information is loaded, Process 404
may compare the AFP to the control files to match them together.
Once this is done the jobs move forward in their respective
processes until all data is loaded into the ADF database and the
jobs are ready to be prepared for printing.
[0039] Process 410 is an extract process that prepares jobs for
printing. Process 410 thresholds the print files received into
manageable production sizes for the current configuration of the
production floor to release the work to the print queue. For
example, if the floor equipment best supports jobs of the size of
18-22,000 sheets, a stream of 200,000 sheets may be thresholded at
20,000 sheets such that 10 child jobs are created. The child jobs
may include the thresholded AFP and the control file. The ADF
updates the ADF database allocating each of he already indexed mail
pieces into the appropriate child jobs.
[0040] A print process 420 manages the files from printing to
dispatching. At a print step of the print process 420, the files
are managed via the ADF to the various production print equipment.
The print process may provide reprinting, forward space and back
space controls, and print range functions.
[0041] After the printing process is complete, the ADF may perform
a quality check process 422 and a production control process 430.
After these processes are completed, the work may be assigned to
inserters or finishing equipment. In processes 440 and 450 the
control files are loaded to control the insert devices during mail
piece processing such that the bin firing selection and timing is
controlled. The insertion results are also loaded in processes 440
and 450. The insertion results may be returned in real time.
[0042] The results are then loaded back into the ADF for additional
processing and manual mail piece correction or selection for
reprinting at a Verification process 460. A dispatch process 470 is
used to conclude the work in the ADF and indicate that the jobs are
leaving the facility for delivery. A Retention process 480 may also
be provided for retention.
[0043] FIG. 5 is a user interface enabled by an inserter
productivity monitoring and control system in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention. User interface 500 may include a
selectable site 502 and a description of each piece of inserter
equipment 510. The user interface 500 may further include specific
machine details at 530. The status of each inserter equipment piece
may be communicated by depicting each equipment piece status with a
distinct graphic representation. For example, diagonal
cross-hatching, or a red colored display may indicate that a
process has stopped as shown for AF APS and for B1 APS. Dotted
icons A1 FPS and B4 APS+ may designate processes that are partially
complete. In embodiments of the invention, yellow may be used to
illustrate partial completion. Darkened icons A3 MPS, B2 APS+,
B5APS, B6MPS, B7MPS, and B8MPS may be used to represent processes
that are completed or nearing completion. In embodiments of the
invention, these icons may be colored green. Unshaded icons A2 FPS,
A4 APS, and B3 APS may illustrate processes that have not yet
begun. Below each icon, the number of pieces processed, the goal,
and the percentage of the goal reached are listed. Highlighting an
icon may cause more information, such as that at 520 to be
displayed. At 520, the viewer obtains the identity of the operator,
the run rate, the goal run rate, and the status. In this instance,
the operator has stopped the processing.
[0044] Further information is also shown in section 530, which
shows the basic information including machine status, operation run
rate, goal run rate, and operator identity. Additional information
may include job information such as job type and job ID, a
description of what is being printed, the number of pieces, the
number of sheets, and the current status.
[0045] FIGS. 6-13 are further descriptive of the types of
information that may be displayed to system users and the manner in
which the information may be displayed to enhance the user
experience. The screens on pages 1-3 may be displayed on any type
of computing device including a mobile device, and the system may
be configured to provide alerts and real time data directly to a
user device.
[0046] FIG. 6 is a user interface 602 illustrating a site view 612
within a statement processing dashboard 610 in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention. In embodiments of the invention, the
system may print statements for mailing, the statements issued by a
financial institution or other organization. Selectable display
options 614 include site, display, view, priority, cycle date, and
service level agreement (SLA) date. Information displayed relates
to clients, pieces, print, production control, manual insertion,
machine insertion, verification, dispatch, parent jobs, and child
jobs. The clients may include internal clients within a business or
clients external to a printing operation. The number of pieces for
printing may be shown for each client. Each successive column
illustrates the number of pieces currently in each process
described above in the ADF with respect to FIG. 4. Additionally,
the final columns show the number of parent jobs and the number of
child jobs being processed. Section 630 includes a bar graph
showing processing trends indicating how many pieces are in any
given process at a point in time.
[0047] FIG. 7 is a user interface illustrating a product view 712
within a statement processing dashboard 710 in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention. Section 714 includes selectable
display items, such as site, display view, priority, and SLA date.
Headings 716 include jobs, job identifiers, job status, pieces,
sheets, and SLA. Furthermore, each successive column, including
print, production control, manual insertion, machine insertion,
verification, and dispatch illustrates the number of pieces
currently in each process described above in the ADF with respect
to FIG. 4. Section 718 provides all of the relevant data for the
selected product.
[0048] FIG. 8 is a user interface illustrating a map view 820
within a print dashboard 810 in accordance with an embodiment of
the invention. The map 820 may cover an entire geographic area
where print facilities are dispersed. Within each geographic area,
a plurality of dots or other indicators may represent print
facilities.
[0049] FIG. 9 is a user interface illustrating an additional map
view 920 within a print dashboard 910 in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention. Indicators such as dots 930 may be
provided to identify print facilities. In FIG. 9, a user has zoomed
in to see details as illustrated by dots 940. The dots in the
region 940 illustrate a number of printers at the location. If a
user clicks on the location, the user will be taken directly to a
print monitoring view (shown and further described in FIG. 11) for
that location.
[0050] FIG. 10 is a user interface illustrating a more detailed map
view 1020 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. An
informational area 1010 shows the dashboard and a pooling
timestamp. The polling timestamp reflects the last time the
dashboard was updated with print data. The updates generally
include print volume and alerts such as status and toner level. A
search function in the tool bar 1010 allows the user to locate a
specific printer. Search fields may include, but should not be
limited to, printer name, serial number, physical location, and IP
address. Highlighted dots 1030 and faded dots such as 1040 may be
implemented for display on the user interfaces.
[0051] FIG. 11 is a user interface illustrating a printer
monitoring view 1110 within a print dashboard in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention. A toolbar 1100 includes dashboard
information, polling information and a search block as described
above and additionally includes a date range selector. The date
range selector in the printer monitoring view updates information
including pages, black and white pages, color pages, color
percentage, and duplex percentage for each printer based on the
date range selected. Selectable options 1120 include location
information such as region, country, state/province, city,
building, and floor. Selectable options 1120 may further include
line of business, building type, vendor, model number, status, and
variance. Columns 1130 list the information in accordance with the
selected options for each printer 1140 listed. Additionally, the
columns 1130 may include additional information such information on
alerts, printer status, toner level, and pages. Each column may be
removed or added in accordance with user preferences. Specific
preferences can be saved to a default view within a user profile. A
printer information area 1150 allows details for a selected printer
to be specified in greater detail.
[0052] FIG. 12 is a chart illustrating information available
through user interfaces in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention. Available regions 1210 may include selected regions or
all regions. Similarly, available countries 1220, 1230, and 1240
may include all countries within a region or selected countries
within a region. Lines of business 1250 are listed as lines of
business within a financial institution. Vendors 1252 may include
all vendors of printers within the system or selected vendors.
Status indicators 1254 include all statuses, online, or offline.
Illustrated building types 1258 include all building types, campus,
or non-campus building types. Variance selections 1256 may include
"all", "yes" or "no". Model numbers 1260 may include each model
number available individually or alternatively, all model numbers
may be included. Model numbers may be set as a multi-select filter,
such that more than one printer model can be selected at a time.
Guidance for selecting filters is illustrated at 1270. The filters
may be intertwined, such that selection of a particular filter,
such as "region" will limit the filters available for "country".
Other filter selections may also be limited based on the selection
of another filter. For example, certain building types or certain
printer models may exist only in certain regions or certain
countries.
[0053] FIG. 13 is a chart illustrating alerts available through
user interfaces in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Supplies alerts 1310 illustrate supply deficiencies at a selected
site. Advisory alerts 1320, service errors 1330, media path alerts
1340, and service alerts 1350 illustrate particular problems that
must be solved in order to resume printing. Particular types of
alerts may be identified by a particular icon as illustrated in the
printer monitoring screen of FIG. 11. The icons may be
differentiated by color, number, shape, and/or a combination of
these.
[0054] All of the components illustrated in the aforementioned
drawings may be, include, or be implemented by a computer or
multiple computers. The components may be described in the general
context of computer-executable instructions, such as program
modules, being executed by a computer. Generally, program modules
include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures,
etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract
data types.
[0055] As described above, embodiments of the system of the
invention and various processes of embodiments are described. The
system of the invention or portions of the system of the invention
may be in the form of a "processing machine," i.e. a tangibly
embodied machine, such as a general purpose computer or a special
purpose computer, for example. As used herein, the term "processing
machine" is to be understood to include at least one processor that
uses at least one memory. The at least one memory stores a set of
instructions. The instructions may be either permanently or
temporarily stored in the memory or memories of the processing
machine. The processor executes the instructions that are stored in
the memory or memories in order to process data. The set of
instructions may include various instructions that perform a
particular task or tasks, such as any of the processing as
described herein. Such a set of instructions for performing a
particular task may be characterized as a program, software
program, or simply software.
[0056] As noted above, the processing machine, which may be
constituted, for example, by the particular system and/or systems
described above, executes the instructions that are stored in the
memory or memories to process data. This processing of data may be
in response to commands by a user or users of the processing
machine, in response to previous processing, in response to a
request by another processing machine and/or any other input, for
example.
[0057] As noted above, the processing machine used to implement the
invention may be a general purpose computer. However, the
processing machine described above may also utilize (or be in the
form of) any of a wide variety of other technologies including a
special purpose computer, a computer system including a
microcomputer, mini-computer or mainframe for example, a programmed
microprocessor, a micro-controller, a peripheral integrated circuit
element, a CSIC (Consumer Specific Integrated Circuit) or ASIC
(Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or other integrated
circuit, a logic circuit, a digital signal processor, a
programmable logic device such as a FPGA, PLD, PLA or PAL, or any
other device or arrangement of devices that is capable of
implementing the steps of the processes of the invention.
[0058] The processing machine used to implement the invention may
utilize a suitable operating system. Thus, embodiments of the
invention may include a processing machine running the Microsoft
Windows.TM. Vista.TM. operating system, the Microsoft Windows.TM.
XP.TM. operating system, the Microsoft Windows.TM. NT.TM. operating
system, the Windows.TM. 2000 operating system, the Unix operating
system, the Linux operating system, the Xenix operating system, the
IBM AIX.TM. operating system, the Hewlett-Packard UX.TM. operating
system, the Novell Netware.TM. operating system, the Sun
Microsystems Solaris.TM. operating system, the OS/2.TM. operating
system, the BeOS.TM. operating system, the Macintosh operating
system, the Apache operating system, an OpenStep.TM. operating
system or another operating system or platform.
[0059] It is appreciated that in order to practice the method of
the invention as described above, it is not necessary that the
processors and/or the memories of the processing machine be
physically located in the same geographical place. That is, each of
the processors and the memories used by the processing machine may
be located in geographically distinct locations and connected so as
to communicate in any suitable manner. Additionally, it is
appreciated that each of the processor and/or the memory may be
composed of different physical pieces of equipment. Accordingly, it
is not necessary that the processor be one single piece of
equipment in one location and that the memory be another single
piece of equipment in another location. That is, it is contemplated
that the processor may be two pieces of equipment in two different
physical locations. The two distinct pieces of equipment may be
connected in any suitable manner. Additionally, the memory may
include two or more portions of memory in two or more physical
locations.
[0060] To explain further, processing as described above is
performed by various components and various memories. However, it
is appreciated that the processing performed by two distinct
components as described above may, in accordance with a further
embodiment of the invention, be performed by a single component.
Further, the processing performed by one distinct component as
described above may be performed by two distinct components. In a
similar manner, the memory storage performed by two distinct memory
portions as described above may, in accordance with a further
embodiment of the invention, be performed by a single memory
portion. Further, the memory storage performed by one distinct
memory portion as described above may be performed by two memory
portions.
[0061] Further, various technologies may be used to provide
communication between the various processors and/or memories, as
well as to allow the processors and/or the memories of the
invention to communicate with any other entity; i.e., so as to
obtain further instructions or to access and use remote memory
stores, for example. Such technologies used to provide such
communication might include a network, the Internet, Intranet,
Extranet, LAN, an Ethernet, or any client server system that
provides communication, for example. Such communications
technologies may use any suitable protocol such as TCP/IP, UDP, or
OSI, for example.
[0062] As described above, at least one set of instructions is used
in the processing of the invention. The set of instructions may be
in the form of a program or software. The software may be in the
form of system software or application software, for example. The
software might also be in the form of a collection of separate
programs, a program module within a larger program, or a portion of
a program module, for example. The software used might also include
modular programming in the form of object oriented programming. The
software tells the processing machine what to do with the data
being processed.
[0063] Further, it is appreciated that the instructions or set of
instructions used in the implementation and operation of the
invention may be in a suitable form such that the processing
machine may read the instructions. For example, the instructions
that form a program may be in the form of a suitable programming
language, which is converted to machine language or object code to
allow the processor or processors to read the instructions. That
is, written lines of programming code or source code, in a
particular programming language, are converted to machine language
using a compiler, assembler or interpreter. The machine language is
binary coded machine instructions that are specific to a particular
type of processing machine, i.e., to a particular type of computer,
for example. The computer understands the machine language.
[0064] Any suitable programming language may be used in accordance
with the various embodiments of the invention. Illustratively, the
programming language used may include assembly language, Ada, APL,
Basic, C, C++, COBOL, dBase, Forth, Fortran, Java, Modula-2,
Pascal, Prolog, REXX, Visual Basic, and/or JavaScript, for example.
Further, it is not necessary that a single type of instructions or
single programming language be utilized in conjunction with the
operation of the system and method of the invention. Rather, any
number of different programming languages may be utilized as is
necessary or desirable.
[0065] Also, the instructions and/or data used in the practice of
the invention may utilize any compression or encryption technique
or algorithm, as may be desired. An encryption module might be used
to encrypt data. Further, files or other data may be decrypted
using a suitable decryption module, for example.
[0066] As described above, the invention may illustratively be
embodied in the form of a processing machine, including a computer
or computer system, for example, that includes at least one memory.
It is to be appreciated that the set of instructions, i.e., the
software for example, that enables the computer operating system to
perform the operations described above may be contained on any of a
wide variety of media or medium, as desired. Further, the data that
is processed by the set of instructions might also be contained on
any of a wide variety of media or medium. That is, the particular
medium, i.e., the memory in the processing machine, utilized to
hold the set of instructions and/or the data used in the invention
may take on any of a variety of physical forms or transmissions,
for example. Illustratively, the medium may be in the form of
paper, paper transparencies, a compact disk, a DVD, an integrated
circuit, a hard disk, a floppy disk, an optical disk, a magnetic
tape, a RAM, a ROM, a PROM, a EPROM, a wire, a cable, a fiber,
communications channel, a satellite transmissions or other remote
transmission, as well as any other medium or source of data that
may be read by the processors of the invention.
[0067] Further, the memory or memories used in the processing
machine that implements the invention may be in any of a wide
variety of forms to allow the memory to hold instructions, data, or
other information, as is desired. Thus, the memory might be in the
form of a database to hold data. The database might use any desired
arrangement of files such as a flat file arrangement or a
relational database arrangement, for example.
[0068] In the system and method of the invention, a variety of
"user interfaces" may be utilized to allow a user to interface with
the processing machine or machines that are used to implement the
invention. As used herein, a user interface includes any hardware,
software, or combination of hardware and software used by the
processing machine that allows a user to interact with the
processing machine. A user interface may be in the form of a
dialogue screen for example. A user interface may also include any
of a mouse, touch screen, keyboard, voice reader, voice recognizer,
dialogue screen, menu box, list, checkbox, toggle switch, a
pushbutton or any other device that allows a user to receive
information regarding the operation of the processing machine as it
processes a set of instructions and/or provide the processing
machine with information. Accordingly, the user interface is any
device that provides communication between a user and a processing
machine. The information provided by the user to the processing
machine through the user interface may be in the form of a command,
a selection of data, or some other input, for example.
[0069] As discussed above, a user interface is utilized by the
processing machine that performs a set of instructions such that
the processing machine processes data for a user. The user
interface is typically used by the processing machine for
interacting with a user either to convey information or receive
information from the user. However, it should be appreciated that
in accordance with some embodiments of the system and method of the
invention, it is not necessary that a human user actually interact
with a user interface used by the processing machine of the
invention. Rather, it is also contemplated that the user interface
of the invention might interact, i.e., convey and receive
information, with another processing machine, rather than a human
user. Accordingly, the other processing machine might be
characterized as a user. Further, it is contemplated that a user
interface utilized in the system and method of the invention may
interact partially with another processing machine or processing
machines, while also interacting partially with a human user.
[0070] It will be readily understood by those persons skilled in
the art that the present invention is susceptible to broad utility
and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present
invention other than those herein described, as well as many
variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, will be
apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and
foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance
or scope of the invention.
[0071] Accordingly, while the present invention has been described
here in detail in relation to its exemplary embodiments, it is to
be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and
exemplary of the present invention and is made to provide an
enabling disclosure of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing
disclosure is not intended to be construed or to limit the present
invention or otherwise to exclude any other such embodiments,
adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent
arrangements.
[0072] From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is
one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects set forth
above, together with other advantages, which are obvious and
inherent to the system and method. It will be understood that
certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be
employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations.
This is contemplated and within the scope of the disclosed
invention.
* * * * *