Printer Remote Monitoring via Web Server and Multi-Channel Alerts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printers used in mission-critical applications, such as barcode printers, often experience downtime due to issues like ribbon depletion, which can lead to significant productivity losses because they lack automatic notification and remote monitoring and correction capabilities, requiring on-site intervention and manual updates for settings and formats.
Innovation Solution
A printer configured to automatically transmit error data via multiple communication channels, allowing remote monitoring and correction, with programmable and controllable settings, including label formats and barcode rendering algorithms, via web interfaces on various devices, enabling IT managers to address issues promptly and uniformly update multiple printers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prior art printers are used without automatic notification capabilities, then the device complexity is reduced, but the downtime increases significantly when problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The printer includes a web server that automatically transmits printer data through multiple communication channels (e-mail, pager, PCS phone, wireless PDA) to notify IT managers of problems. This feedback mechanism enables automatic alerting without requiring continuous manual monitoring, thereby reducing downtime while managing complexity through standardized communication protocols
Solution Approach 2:
A web server acts as an intermediary between the printer and the IT manager, translating printer status data into standardized web pages and communications. This intermediary layer handles the complexity of multiple communication channels and formats, allowing the printer itself to remain relatively simple while achieving reliable notification
2Loss of time
If IT managers must proactively monitor printers using Java-supported devices, then the ease of operation is reduced, but the loss of time for detecting problems is minimized
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring the IT manager to actively check printer status using Java-supported devices, the system inverts the approach by having the printer automatically push notifications to the IT manager through multiple channels including e-mail and pager, which do not require Java support. This eliminates the burden on the IT manager while ensuring immediate problem detection
Solution Approach 2:
The automatic transmission of printer data through multiple communication channels provides immediate feedback to IT managers when problems occur, eliminating the need for proactive monitoring and reducing problem detection time to near-real-time
3Productivity
If label formats must be changed on-site through trial and error printing, then the productivity is reduced, but the device complexity remains low
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service capability where IT managers can remotely access and modify label formats and printer settings through web browsers without needing to be physically present at the printer. This eliminates time-consuming on-site trial and error printing while managing complexity through standardized web interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The web server acts as an intermediary that allows remote access to printer settings and label formats through standard web browsers. This intermediary handles the complexity of communication protocols and data formats, enabling efficient remote configuration without requiring specialized software or on-site intervention
4Loss of time
If multiple printers require individual on-site re-programming, then the loss of time increases, but the ease of repair is maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The web server provides universal access capabilities that allow a single IT manager to remotely re-program multiple printers through a centralized interface. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need to visit each printer individually, reducing re-programming time while maintaining ease of repair through standardized remote access protocols
Data Source
AI summary
A printer which is configured to automatically transmit data, such as critical and non-critical printer data, and route that data through at least one of a plurality of communication channels and services, such as via e-mail or mobile wireless equipment (e.g. an Internet-ready pager, a Personal Communications Service (PCS) phone or a wireless Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)). Preferably, the printer is configured such that it can be programmed and controlled from a remote location. Preferably, the printer is configured such that new label formats can be added from a remote location, and label formats stored in the printer can be viewed and modified from a remote location. Preferably, the printer is also configured such that barcode rendering algorithms can be downloaded to the printer from a remote location, and such that printer settings can be viewed and modified from a remote location, and thereafter can be downloaded to the printer and/or to other printers in a network to facilitate cloning.