Photocopy monitoring system
AssigneeMonitel Products Corp.
InventorsBurt Kravette, Thomas Heidt, Stephen Trapp, Leonard Tarr, James C. Wickstead, Roger Booth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for monitoring a variable output paper processing device is provided. The monitoring system includes a counter which counts the number of papers processed and provides a count signal for each counted paper. A controller receives the count signals and totals the counts. The controller transmits the total count to a central station through a modem after either a predetermined time or a predetermined count. Internal diagnostic signals in the printing device are intercepted as they are transmitted to an internal display device of the printing device and transmitted to the central computer through the modem.
Claims49
A system for monitoring a paper processing device and reporting to a central station, the paper processing device including an internal diagnosing system for diagnosing malfunctions within the system, a display device for displaying the diagnosed malfunction, the diagnosing system providing an internal diagnostic signal specific to the printing device for causing the display device to display the malfunction comprising:
- counter means for counting the number of papers processed by the printing device and producing a count signal corresponding to each paper processed;
- first control means for receiving the count signal, totalling the count signal and transmitting the total count at at least one of a predetermined time interval and a predetermined count interval and producing a count trigger signal;
- a single interface means for receiving the diagnostic signal at a single source without interfering with the operation of the display device, the first control means also receiving the diagnostic signal from the interface means and in response thereto producing a diagnostic trigger signal;
- and
- modem means for transmitting the total count signal to the central station upon receipt of said count trigger signal, the modem means also receiving the diagnostic trigger signal and transmitting the diagnostic signal in response thereto to the central station.
The monitoring system of claim I, further comprising a local area network for transmitting the total count signal from the first control means to the modem means.
A system for monitoring a paper processing device and reporting to a central station, the printing device including an internal diagnosing system for diagnosing malfunctions within the system, a display device for displaying the diagnosed malfunction, the diagnosing system providing an internal diagnostic signal specific to the printing device for causing the display device to display the malfunction comprising:
- counter means for counting the number of papers processed by the printing device and producing a count signal corresponding to each paper processed;
- first control means for receiving the count signal, totalling the count signal and transmitting the total count at at least one of a predetermined time interval and a predetermined count interval and producing a count trigger signal;
- the first control means including memory means for storing said predetermined total count;
- and
- interface means for receiving the diagnostic signal without interfering with the operation of the display device, the first control means also receiving the diagnostic signal from the interface means and in response thereto producing a diagnostic trigger signal;
- modem means for transmitting the total count signal to the central station upon receipt of said count trigger signal, the modem means also receiving the diagnostic trigger signal and transmitting the diagnostic signal in response thereto to the central station;
- third control means for causing the first control means to compare the total count to the predetermined count value and causing said first control means to produce said trigger signal when said total count equals said predetermined count.
A system for monitoring a paper processing device and reporting to a central station, the printing device including an internal diagnosing system for diagnosing malfunctions within the system, a display device for displaying the diagnosed malfunction, the diagnosing system providing an internal diagnostic signal specific to the printing device for causing the display device to display the malfunction comprising:
- counter means for counting the number of papers processed by the printing device and producing a count signal corresponding to each paper processed;
- first control means for receiving the count signal, totalling the count signal and transmitting the total count at at least one of a predetermined time interval and a predetermined count interval and producing a count trigger signal;
- interface means for receiving the diagnostic signal without interfering with the operation of the display device, the first control means also receiving the diagnostic signal from the interface means and in response thereto producing a diagnostic trigger signal;
- said interface means being interchangeable;
- and
- modem means for transmitting the total count signal to the central station upon receipt of said count trigger signal, the modem means also receiving the diagnostic trigger signal and transmitting the diagnostic signal in response thereto to the central station.
A system for monitoring a paper processing device and reporting to a central station, the printing device including an internal diagnosing system for diagnosing malfunctions within the system, a display device for displaying the diagnosed malfunction, the diagnosing system providing an internal diagnostic signal specific to the printing device for causing the display device to display the malfunction comprising:
- counter means for counting the number of papers processed by the printing device and producing a count signal corresponding to each paper processed;
- first control means for receiving the count signal, totalling the count signal and transmitting the total count at at least one of a predetermined time interval and a predetermined count interval and producing a count trigger signal;
- interface means for receiving the diagnostic signal without interfering with the operation of the display device, the first control means also receiving the diagnostic signal from the interface means and in response thereto producing a diagnostic trigger signal;
- said interface means translating said formatted diagnostic signal into a form used by the central station;
- modem means for transmitting the total count signal to the central station upon receipt of said count trigger signal, the modem means also receiving the diagnostic trigger signal and transmitting the diagnostic signal in response thereto to the central station;
- and
- the paper processing device including a cable for internally transmitting the diagnostic signal produced of at least two sections, one end of a first section of the cable having a first connector and one end of a second section of the cable having a second connector, the first connector being receivable within the second connector and the interface comprising a board, a third connector mounted on the board for receiving the first connector, a fourth connector mounted on the board for receiving the second connector, the interface means providing an electrical connection therebetween and transmitting the diagnostic signal to both the first control means and the monitor display.
A system for monitoring a copier and reporting to a central station, a printing device including an internal diagnosing system for diagnosing malfunctions within the system, a display device for displaying the diagnosed malfunction, the diagnosing system providing an internal diagnostic signal specific to the printing device for causing the display device to display the malfunction comprising:
- a first monitoring system including counter means for counting the number of papers processed by a first copier and producing a count signal corresponding to each paper processed;
- control means for receiving the count signal, totalling the count signal and transmitting a total count signal at a predetermined time;
- interface means for receiving the diagnostic signal at a single source without interfering with the operation of the display device, the control means also receiving the diagnostic signal from the interface means and in response thereto producing a diagnostic trigger signal;
- and modem means for transmitting the total count signal to a central billing station and receiving said diagnostic trigger signal and transmitting said diagnostic signal to a central station in response thereto;
- at least one additional system for monitoring a photocopier comprising counter means for counting the number of papers processed by at least a second copier producing a count signal corresponding to each paper processed;
- control means for receiving the count signal, totalling the count signal and transmitting a total count signal at a predetermined time;
- interface means for receiving the diagnostic signal at a single source without interfering with the operation of the display device, the control means also receiving the diagnostic signal from the interface means and in response thereto producing a diagnostic trigger signal;
- and modem means for transmitting the total count signal to a central billing station and receiving said diagnostic trigger signal and transmitting said diagnostic signal to a central station in response thereto;
- and
- computer means located at the billing station for receiving each respective total count signal from each respective copier monitoring system and producing a respective bill for each copier representing the number of papers processed by each respective copier.
A system for monitoring a printing device and reporting to a central station comprising:
- counter means for counting the number of papers processed by the printing device and producing a count signal corresponding to each paper processed;
- first control means for receiving the count signal totaling the count signal and transmitting the total count at at least one of a predetermined time and a predetermined count and producing a trigger signal, the first control means including memory means for storing said predetermined total count;
- modem means for contacting the central station upon receipt of said trigger signal;
- and
- second control means for comparing the total count to the predetermined count value and causing said first control means to produce said trigger signal when said total count equals said predetermined count.
A method for monitoring a printing device, the device including an internal diagnosing system for diagnosing malfunctions within the system, a display device for displaying the diagnosed malfunction, the diagnosing system providing internal diagnostic signals specific to the printing device for causing the display device to display the malfunctions comprising the steps of:
- detecting each of said diagnostic signals at a single location;
- translating a detected internal diagnostic signal to a signal which may be understood by a computer at a central station;
- and
- transmitting the translated signal to the central station.
A method for monitoring a printing device, the device including an internal diagnosing system for diagnosing malfunctions within the system, a display device for displaying the diagnosed malfunction, the diagnosing system providing internal diagnostic signals specific to the printing device for causing the display device to display the malfunctions comprising the steps of:
- detecting at least one selected internal diagnostic signal;
- translating the selected internal diagnostic signal to a signal which may be understood by a computer at a central station;
- transmitting the translated signal to the central station;
- and
- transmitting a last abort data to the central station when transmitting the translated signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.