Apparatus and method for metering, monitoring and providing real time enterprise printing information

A monitoring component of a computer network, the monitor being configured to monitor all printers in an enterprise, the monitor comprising:

• an authentication unit configured to authenticate a customer associated with the enterprise and obtain a session ticket, for each transaction;
• a printer list fetcher configured to download a list of in-service printer and print scan load frequency for each location with in the enterprise;
• a scheduler configured to implement different categories of scans;
• an executing unit configured to execute a network scan on a computer network to obtain information for all printers attached to the computer network, a local scan on each computer that is attached to a non-network printer to obtain information for all non-network printers in the enterprise and a port scan to obtain information for all non-catalogued printers;
• a complier configured to compile all scanned information, obtained from executing the network scan, the local scan and the port scan, in a file;
• a dispatcher configured to dispatch the file to an external server,
• wherein the file in the external server is used to provide printer status information and usage information for each printer in the enterprise.

An apparatus, comprising:

• an authentication means for authenticating a customer associated with the enterprise and obtain a session ticket, for each transaction;
• executing means for executing a printer list fetcher for downloading a list of in-service printer and print scan load frequency for each location with in the enterprise;
• executing means for executing a scheduler for implementing different categories of scans;
• executing means for executing a network scan on a computer network to obtain information for all printers attached to the computer network, a local scan on each computer that is attached to a non-network printer to obtain information for all non-network printers in the enterprise and a port scan to obtain information for all non-catalogued printers;
• compiling means for compiling all scanned information, obtained from executing the network scan, the local scan and the port scan, in a file and dispatching the file to an external server;
• and
• means for using the file in the external server to provide printer status information and usage information for each printer in the enterprise.

A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program comprising program code for controlling a processor to execute a method for monitoring printer usage and status of all printers in an enterprise, comprising:

• authenticating a customer associated with the enterprise and obtain a session ticket, for each transaction;
• executing a printer list fetcher for downloading a list of in-service printer and print scan load frequency for each location with in the enterprise;
• executing a scheduler for implementing different categories of scans;
• executing a network scan on a computer network to obtain information for all printers attached to the computer network, a local scan on each computer that is attached to a non-network printer to obtain information for all non-network printers in the enterprise and a port scan to obtain information for all non-catalogued printers;
• compiling all scanned information, obtained from executing the network scan, the local scan and the port scan, in a file and dispatching the file to an external server;
• and
• using the file in the external server to provide printer status information and usage information for each printer in the enterprise.