Apparatus and method for metering and monitoring print usage at non-network printers
US8223365B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 14, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jul 17, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 17, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/1288
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to a printer component for monitoring usage on non-network printers. The printer component includes a desktop component installed on a network computer to which a non-network printer is attached. The desktop component is for obtaining printer status information from each non-network printer attached to the network computer. The printer component also includes a server component installed on an external server. During installation of the desktop component, a job listener is attached to the network computer to obtain printer status information for each non-network printer. When the desktop component obtains printer status information, a socket server is started to listen to a port and return non-network printer objects. The server component mergers information obtained from the desktop component with previously stored printer information to provide printer status information for all network and non-network printers within an enterprise.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.