Title of Invention

METHOD FOR PRINTING A GRAPHICAL REPORT OF USAGE INFORMATION

Abstract

The invention relates, in general, to Printer/copier/Multifunction device Technologies and in particular to a method which enables printer to provide graphical report on usage statistics. This invention explains a method and system of generating graphical report on usage statistics on a printer comprising the steps of: storing the data of device statistics on a non-volatile memory; requesting for a graph through operational panel by the user; choosing a set of parameters which is used in generating the print of the graphical report; and processing the data and producing the printing reports using graphical means.

Full Text

FIELD OF INVENTION The invention relates, in general, to Printer / copier / Multifunction device Technologies and in particular to a method which enables printer to provide graphical report on usage statistics. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for generating graphical report on usage statistics. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART The first related art talks about a printer that is capable of printing a demonstration page when a particular key is pressed under a given condition. The second invention talks about a printer capable of generating auto error/report pages in text form whenever necessary. The first related art talks about an invention that relates to a printing device which is connected to a computer. The printing device includes a user interface with a primary user interface button. When the printing device is not connected to the computer and the primary user interface button is actuated in an intended manner, the printing device prints a demonstration page. However, when the printing device is connected to the computer then the printing device is configured to detect the presence of the computer, and to perform a function defined within the computer when the primary user interface button is actuated in the intended manner. The second related art is mainly about a printer that can do certain amount of print queue handling. But it also mentions about printing a report page when situation demands. There are many printers in the market, which print report pages presenting a host of information for the user/administrator. All of them use text descriptions to convey the message across. However there are following limitations in the existing art: 1. Text reports are not easy to comprehend and aesthetically not pleasing. 2. None of the existing methods provide consolidated report of user statistics 3. One prior art uses SNMP to generate graphs. But it is not preferred since a. It needs a separate host b. It needs a printer capable of understanding SNMP c. This printer should have network capabilities SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary object of the invention is to evolve a method which enables a printer to provide graphical report on usage statistics. It is another object of the invention to provide user friendly information which enables the users of printers to easily comprehend the error reports and usage statistics. It is another object of the invention to enable the users of the printer to plan judicious usage of the printer based on the graphical output on the usage statistics. It is another object of the invention to propose a method wherein the additional feature of graphical reports is incorporated as a part of the firmware and the implementation does not need host or additional software. The invention proposes a method wherein the printer is capable of providing graphical report on usage statistics. The Printer as claimed in the invention is capable of printing the results on Histogram or Pie Chart based on the selection. It is also capable of sending the same to host on command. The aim of the invention is to make the administrative tasks of a printer more user friendly and to avoid complexities involved in the prior art. Accordingly, this invention explains a method of generating graphical report on usage statistics on a printer comprising the steps of: (a) storing the data of device statistics on a non-volatile memory; (b) requesting for a graph through operational panel by the user; (c) choosing a set of parameters which is used in generating the print of the graphical report; and (d) processing the data and producing the printing reports using graphical means. The said graph is a histogram or a Pie chart. The printer produces the histograms or Pie charts by taking various combinations of the said set of parameters. The printer stores a plurality of usage information in the memory and combines the said information in a user requested manner to produce usage reports. The printer stores information on how to generate graphs of different types by using a given set of parameters. One-touch functionality is provided for critical report pages. The printer exports the printed pages to a host computer or to a network. Accordingly, this invention further explains a system for generating graphical report on usage statistics, where the said system comprises: (a) an internal static storage that is re-writable for storing device statistics; (b) a module that is used for generating the patterns of the graphical reports; (c) a Ul to enable the user for selecting the graphical report on the type of graph; and (d) a module to generate the geometrical parameters from the selected graph. In the said system the said graph is a histogram or a Pie chart. The system produces the histograms or Pie charts by taking various combinations of the said set of parameters. The system stores a plurality of usage information in the memory and combine the said information in a user requested manner to produce usage reports. The system stores information on how to generate graphs of different types by using a given set of parameters. One-touch functionality is provided for critical report pages. The system exports the printed pages to a host computer or to a network. These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings and the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a flow chart of the present invention. Figure 2 shows a block diagram of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood however that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. The following description and drawings are not to be construed as limiting the invention and numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention, as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention. However in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention in detail. A Multifunctional peripheral is capable of storing its data on a non-volatile memory like the way many faxes are sent and /received. The data includes information pertaining to the number of documents sent by a particular user/group of users for print in a specified amount of time, the number of errors occurred when a job was being processed etc. To analyze these data, the printer produces the histograms or Pie charts by taking various combinations of the same. For an example, a Graph (Histogram or Pie chart) can be produced based on the usage of a particular resource. It can also combine such data with user information of various kinds. The invention relates to a printer that stores a plurality of usage information in it's memory and then combine them in a user requested manner to produce usage reports. These reports are printed using graphical means and not as text reports. The printer stores information on how to generate graphs of different types by using a given set of parameters. The user is allowed to choose a set of parameters which is used in generating the print of a graphical report. We can provide one-touch functionality for some important report pages. The following example describes part of the above description, FAX SENT TO STATUS TIME 1233 YES 9.12 1234 NO 9.3 3435 YES 9.4 4343 YES 10 544 NO 10.3 54546 NO 11 45645 NO 11.1 4464 YES 11.2 456456 YES 11.3 456456 YES 11.4 544 YES 12 Then the user can request for a graph, number of faxes successfully sent. He can also request for graph on hour basis verses status. The method to obtain the graphs, assume that details of the faxes stored in the device non-volatile memory, kind of fields, like fax number, sent status, time of the fax sent, receive number, receive time, receive status, and user information like the sender's details can also be stored in the device non-volatile memory. The user can further request for a graph through operational panel, and then the MFP processes the data and produces the graph. Figure 1 is the flow chart which illustrates that how it interacts each in the system and below describes the new parts to be added in the existing system to enable the feature: 1. An internal static storage that is re-writable may be used for storing device statistics. 2. A new module that is used for generating the patterns of the graphical report. 3. A Ul to enable the user for selecting the graphical report on the type of graph. 4. A module to generate the geometrical parameters from the selected graph. Processing the Data: The following steps helps in producing the bitmap of the graph and it is a special case for Pie chart, and assumed that similarly it can produce the graph in case of histogram. Method to Produce the Pie chart: Allocate the one page of the memory as two dimensional array, and assume the centre (X, Y) of the two dimensional array as centre of the page, and assume that radius of pie chart as R. Compute the 360 values for each degree R COS A and R SIN A, where A=1l2...,360, store them. Assume the X(1), X(2), ..., X(n) are the values to draw the pie chart. X = X(1) + X(2) + ....+ X(n), then find the each sector by computing S(i) = 360/ X * X(i), where i= 1, 2, ... n. Traverse the page from the left to right, and top to bottom. One can find the sector of the memory by using the (R COS S(i), R SIN S(i)), (X, Y), (RCOS S(i-1), RSIN(i-1)), where i = 1, 2, ..n. Fill the portion by traversing left to right and top to bottom approach by find the values in this sector with appropriate color. Apply the same step to all the sectors with different color. Assume that each bar of histogram as rectangle and its length is 'A' and height is (B\ Without loss of generality we can assume first bar is at (0, 0), (A, 0), (0, B) and (A, B). Allocate the one page of the memory as two dimensional array. Traverse the page from the left to right, and top to bottom. One can find all the points which are falling in this region as specified co-ordinates above with the following condition 0 The foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed herein. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes only, various equivalent modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate. Thus, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of embodiments of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth. Therefore, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the essential scope and spirit of the present invention. It is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular terms used in following claims and/or to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include any and all embodiments and equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims. WE CLAIM 1. A method of generating graphical report on usage statistics on a printer comprising the steps of: (a) storing the data of device statistics on a non-volatile memory; (b) requesting for a graph through operational panel by the user; (c) choosing a set of parameters which is used in generating the print of the graphical report; and (d) processing the data and producing the printing reports using graphical means. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said graph is a histogram or a Pie chart. 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printer produces the histograms or Pie charts by taking various combinations of the said set of parameters. 4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printer stores a plurality of usage information in the memory and combine the said information in a user requested manner to produce usage reports. 5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printer stores information on how to generate graphs of different types by using a given set of parameters. 6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein one-touch functionality is provided for critical report pages. 7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the printer exports the printed pages to a host computer or to a network. 8. A system for generating graphical report on usage statistics, where the said system comprises: (a) an internal static storage that is re-writable for storing device statistics; (b) a module that is used for generating the patterns of the graphical reports; (c) a Ul to enable the user for selecting the graphical report on the type of graph; and (d) a module to generate the geometrical parameters from the selected graph. 9. A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the said graph is a histogram or a Pie chart. 10. A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the printer produces the histograms or Pie charts by taking various combinations of the said set of parameters. 11. A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the printer stores a plurality of usage information in the memory and combine the said information in a user requested manner to produce usage reports. 12. A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the printer stores information on how to generate graphs of different types by using a given set of parameters. 13. A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein one-touch functionality is provided for critical report pages. 14. A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the said system exports the printed pages to a host computer or to a network. 15. A method of generating graphical report on usage statistics on a printer substantially as herein described particularly with reference to the drawings. 16. A system for generating graphical report on usage statistics substantially as herein described particularly with reference to the drawings.

Documents:

1706-CHE-2005 AMENDED CLAIMS 03-05-2013.pdf

1706-CHE-2005 AMENDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION 03-05-2013.pdf

1706-CHE-2005 FORM-1 03-05-2013.pdf

1706-CHE-2005 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 19-06-2013.pdf

1706-CHE-2005 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 20-05-2013.pdf

1706-CHE-2005 CORRESPOPNDENCE OTHERS 16-10-2014.pdf

1706-CHE-2005 FORM-13 03-05-2013.pdf

1706-che-2005 form-13 19-06-2006.pdf

1706-CHE-2005 FORM-5 03-05-2013.pdf

1706-CHE-2005 OTHER PATENT DOCUMENT 03-05-2013.pdf

1706-CHE-2005 OTHERS 19-06-2013.pdf

1706-CHE-2005 POWER OF ATTORNEY 20-05-2013.pdf

1706-CHE-2005 POWER OF ATTORNEY 19-06-2013.pdf

1706-CHE-2005 POWER OF ATTORNEY 03-05-2013.pdf

1706-CHE-2005 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 13-12-2013.pdf

1706-CHE-2005 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS. 25-06-2013.pdf

1706-CHE-2005 EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECEIVED 03-05-2013.pdf

1706-CHE-2005 POWER OF ATTORNEY 13-12-2013.pdf

1706-CHE-2005 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 17-12-2013.pdf

1706-CHE-2005 FORM-13 13-12-2013.pdf

1706-CHE-2005 FORM-13 17-12-2013.pdf

1706-CHE-2005 POWER OF ATTORNEY 17-12-2013.pdf

1706-che-2005-abstract.pdf

1706-che-2005-claims.pdf

1706-che-2005-correspondnece-others.pdf

1706-che-2005-description(complete).pdf

1706-che-2005-drawings.pdf

1706-che-2005-form 1.pdf

1706-che-2005-form 26.pdf

1706-che-2005-form13.pdf