Method and system for web based printer error information
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorTravis J. Parry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for providing information on printer errors, in response to specific printer errors. In one embodiment, a printer contains and error detecting device and a memory. If printer errors are detected, error messages are generated, The user may view the error messages, each error message contains basic information on the type of error that occurred, and a “link” to obtain further information. By activating the link, the user can download information on that error from a remote computer over World Wide Web (Internet) or other network. Information on printer errors is maintained and updated in a memory of the remote computer. The system thus provides the most current information related to each printer error.
Claims23
A method of improving printer productivity, comprising:
- providing a printer comprising an error detector for detecting errors in printing functions;
- attaching said printer in communication with a network;
- providing at least one remote computer in communication with said network, said at least one remote computer containing a database of printer error information;
- performing a print job with said printer;
- examining said print job with said error detector for said errors;
- creating an error message where said examining reveals an error, said error message containing identifying information regarding said error;
- writing said error message into an error archive retained in a memory on said computer;
- accessing said error archive to display said error message;
- requesting additional information on said error message;
- and
- accessing said additional information on said printer error from said at least one remote computer in response to said request, allowing action to be taken in response to said error based upon said additional information to improve printer productivity.
A method of providing updated information on printer errors, comprising:
- providing a printer in operative communication with a workstation, said printer including an error detector for detecting errors in performing a print job;
- conveying a print job to said printer by said workstation;
- performing said print job on said printer such that said performance is examined for errors by said error detector;
- generating an error message with said printer where said error is detected, said error message including an access command that may be executed to obtain additional information on said error from a remote computer accessible over a network;
- accessing said error message on said workstation;
- and
- executing said access command to obtain said additional information on said workstation by downloading said additional information from said remote computer over said network.
A method of providing additional information on printer errors, comprising:
- attaching a computer containing a database of information on printer errors in communication with a network, said database accessible over said network;
- and
- providing additional information on a printer error from said database to a workstation over said network, in response to a command executed by said workstation in an error message generated by a printer in communication with said workstation and displayed on said workstation.
A system for providing information on specific printer errors, comprising:
- a printer incorporating a Web server, said Web server linked to a network, said printer comprising a error detector for detecting errors in printing functions, said Web server configured to assemble and convey a request for additional information on said errors detected by said error detector;
- at least one receiving computer in communication with said network, said at least one receiving computer having a memory thereon;
- and
- at least one error information database stored within said memory of said at least one receiving computer, said at least one error information database capable of receiving a request for additional error information generated by said printer and conveyed over said network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.