Method and apparatus to communicate data associated with media processing devices

A method for use on a server residing on a first network, the method comprising:

• storing observational data received from a media processing device residing on a second network via a first persistent connection between the media processing device and the server;
• providing, via the first persistent connection, a configuration file to the media processing device that defines a type of the observational data to be collected by the media processing device;
• and
• prohibiting communication of an operational instruction to the media processing device via the first persistent connection, wherein the operational instruction is to control media processing hardware of the media processing device.

A system, comprising:

• a media processing device residing on a first network;
• a first server residing on a network different than the first network;
• and
• a second server residing on a network different than the first network, wherein:
• the media processing device is configured to:
• collect observational data associated with the media processing device in accordance with a configuration file stored on the media processing device, wherein the observational data is a type of data incapable of controlling the media processing operation;
• and
• communicate the observational data to the first server via a first persistent connection established between the media processing device and the first server;
• and
• the first server is configured to provide a configuration file to the media processing device, wherein the configuration file determines the observational data to be collected by the media processing device;
• and
• the second server is configured to provide an operational instruction to the media processing device via a second persistent connection established between the second server and the media processing device, the operational instruction to control a media processing operation implemented by hardware of the media processing device;
• the first persistent connection is independent from the second persistent connection;
• and
• the first persistent connection is restricted from communicating data capable of controlling the media processing operation.