WO2016034054A1 - 打印设备监控方法和***以及打印监控服务器 - Google Patents

打印设备监控方法和***以及打印监控服务器 Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2016034054A1
WO2016034054A1 PCT/CN2015/087992 CN2015087992W WO2016034054A1 WO 2016034054 A1 WO2016034054 A1 WO 2016034054A1 CN 2015087992 W CN2015087992 W CN 2015087992W WO 2016034054 A1 WO2016034054 A1 WO 2016034054A1
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Prior art keywords
printing device
host
network
network printing
identification information
Prior art date
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PCT/CN2015/087992
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
马振宇
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珠海奔图电子有限公司
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Application filed by 珠海奔图电子有限公司 filed Critical 珠海奔图电子有限公司
Priority to EP15838294.5A priority Critical patent/EP3171581B1/en
Publication of WO2016034054A1 publication Critical patent/WO2016034054A1/zh
Priority to US15/433,000 priority patent/US10057455B2/en

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
    • H04N1/32502—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device in systems having a plurality of input or output devices
    • H04N1/32523—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device in systems having a plurality of input or output devices a plurality of output devices
    • H04N1/32529—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device in systems having a plurality of input or output devices a plurality of output devices of different type, e.g. internal and external devices
    • H04N1/32534—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device in systems having a plurality of input or output devices a plurality of output devices of different type, e.g. internal and external devices details of interfacing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00002—Diagnosis, testing or measuring; Detecting, analysing or monitoring not otherwise provided for
    • H04N1/00026—Methods therefor
    • H04N1/00042—Monitoring, i.e. observation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
    • G06F3/1203—Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. print management
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
    • G06F3/1229—Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
    • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
    • G06F3/1278—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure
    • G06F3/1285—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
    • G06F3/1289—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server in server-client-printer device configuration, e.g. the server does not see the printer
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00127—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
    • H04N1/00204—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00127—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
    • H04N1/00204—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server
    • H04N1/00244—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server with a server, e.g. an internet server
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00127—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
    • H04N1/00323—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a measuring, monitoring or signaling apparatus, e.g. for transmitting measured information to a central location
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00127—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
    • H04N1/00344—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
    • H04N1/32101—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
    • H04N1/32106—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title separate from the image data, e.g. in a different computer file
    • H04N1/32122—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title separate from the image data, e.g. in a different computer file in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
    • H04N1/32502—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device in systems having a plurality of input or output devices
    • H04N1/32523—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device in systems having a plurality of input or output devices a plurality of output devices
    • H04N1/32539—Detecting or indicating the status of the output devices
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
    • H04N2201/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
    • H04N2201/3201—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
    • H04N2201/3204—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title of data relating to a user, sender, addressee, machine or electronic recording medium
    • H04N2201/3205—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title of data relating to a user, sender, addressee, machine or electronic recording medium of identification information, e.g. name or ID code

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to printing technology, and in particular to a printing device monitoring method and system and a printing monitoring server.
  • printers can be detected by the print monitoring server on the network (for example, MPS, Managed print services, printing). Management services) are monitored and managed.
  • the print monitoring server Through the network monitoring of the print monitoring server, the usage status of the printer can be obtained in real time. For example, status information such as the number of printers printed, the remaining amount of toner or ink, supplementary information on printed paper, and error messages that occur must be monitored in time for timely maintenance of the printer.
  • the print management server can manage all network printers in the enterprise through network monitoring protocols such as SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol).
  • SNMP Simple Network Management Protocol
  • printers that are not directly connected to the network (referred to as non-network printers) only support interfaces such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), serial ports (such as RS323, RS485) or parallel ports, and connect to computers through these interfaces.
  • the printer does not support the network monitoring protocol.
  • the print monitoring server cannot manage these printers that are not connected to the network.
  • the above-mentioned printers that are not directly connected to the network have simple structure, simple functions, and convenient use. Many advantages, so it is still used by a large number of users, especially for users who are not familiar with the printer, when choosing a printer, it is more inclined to operate a simple and convenient printer. Therefore, the management and monitoring of these printers that are not connected to the network is still necessary.
  • U.S. Patent No. 20050097198 proposes to use a network function on a host locally connected to a non-network printer as a transit bridge to transmit information that needs to be monitored by a non-network printer to a network through a non-network communication method such as USB.
  • a non-network communication method such as USB.
  • the program of monitoring equipment This solution solves some monitoring problems for non-network printing devices.
  • non-network printing devices are mobile, that is, they can be moved from one host to another, and current print monitoring servers do not have a suitable mechanism to monitor such changes.
  • the print monitoring server may send monitoring commands to the incorrect host, or even properly monitor these non-network printers that have moved and changed the connected host.
  • US20050097198 also does not disclose a technique for monitoring host changes of non-network printers.
  • One of the technical problems to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the drawback that the current print monitoring server cannot monitor the non-network printer after changing the connected host.
  • the printing monitoring server accessing the network performs the following steps: receiving identification information of the non-network printing device sent by the host and identification information of the host;
  • the non-network printing device is connected to the host and accesses the network through the host; when the locally stored printing device data includes the identification information of the non-network printing device, the printing device data is associated with the non-network
  • the host identification information corresponding to the network printing device is determined as the identification information of the previous host; when the identification information of the previous host is inconsistent with the identification information of the host, indicating that the non-network printing device is stored according to the identification information of the previous host
  • the previous host of the identification information deletes the identification information of the non-network printing device, and the non-network printing device is included in the printing device data according to the identification information of the non-network printing device and the identification information of the host Updated to correspond to the host.
  • the method further includes: the print monitoring server sends a query request to the host, and receives status information acquired by the host from the non-network printing device or is not connected to the non-network printing device. Responding to: wherein the host acquires the status information from the non-network printing device according to the query request.
  • the print monitoring server when receiving the identification information of the non-network printing device and the identification information of the host sent by the host, the print monitoring server further receives status information of the non-network printing device sent by the host Wherein the host detects the non-network printing device accessing, and acquires the knowledge of the non-network printing device The information is obtained by the host when the identification information of the non-network printing device is not saved locally.
  • the print monitoring server receives status information of the non-network printing device acquired by the host, and updates the information in the printing device data according to status information of the non-network printing device acquired by the host.
  • Status information of the non-network printing device wherein, when the host locally stores the identification information of the non-network printing device, the host acquires the status of the non-network printing device according to the locally saved information of the non-network printing device.
  • Information when the status information of the non-network printing device saved locally is inconsistent with the status information of the obtained non-network printing device, the host sends the acquired status information of the non-network printing device Give the print monitoring server.
  • the method further includes: when the identification information of the non-network printing device is not included in the locally stored print device data, the print monitoring server is configured according to the identification information of the non-network printing device and the host The identification information adds a correspondence between the non-network printing device and the host in the printing device data.
  • the print monitoring server receives the identification information of the non-network printing device sent by the host by email and the identification information of the host.
  • the embodiment of the present invention further provides a print monitoring server, wherein the print monitoring server can be accessed in a network, wherein the print monitoring server includes: a receiving module, and receiving identification information and a location of the non-network printing device sent by the host The identification information of the host; the non-network printing device is connected to the host and accesses the network through the host; and the determining module, when the locally stored printing device data includes the identification information of the non-network printing device, Determining the host identification information corresponding to the non-network printing device in the printing device data as the identification information of the previous host; and executing the module, when the identification information of the previous host is inconsistent with the identification information of the host, according to the The identification information of the previous host indicates that the previous host storing the identification information of the non-network printing device deletes the identification information of the non-network printing device, according to the identification information of the non-network printing device and the identification information of the host Updating the non-network printing device to the same in the printing device data The
  • the print monitoring server further includes: a sending module, sending a query request to the host; the receiving module receiving state information acquired by the host from the non-network printing device or not connecting the non-network a response of the printing device; wherein the host acquires the status information from the non-network printing device according to the query request.
  • a sending module sending a query request to the host
  • the receiving module receiving state information acquired by the host from the non-network printing device or not connecting the non-network a response of the printing device; wherein the host acquires the status information from the non-network printing device according to the query request.
  • the receiving module when receiving the identification information of the non-network printing device and the identification information of the host sent by the host, the receiving module further receives status information of the non-network printing device sent by the host;
  • the host detects an identification letter of the non-network printing device when the non-network printing device is accessed.
  • the host acquires state information of the non-network printing device when the identification information of the non-network printing device is not saved locally.
  • the receiving module receives state information of the non-network printing device acquired by the host; the execution module updates the data in the printing device data according to the state information of the non-network printing device acquired by the host The status information of the non-network printing device; wherein, when the host locally stores the identification information of the non-network printing device, the host acquires the non-network printing device according to the locally saved identification information of the non-network printing device.
  • the state information of the non-network printing device acquired by the host when the state information of the non-network printing device saved locally is inconsistent with the state information of the obtained non-network printing device Information is sent to the print monitoring server.
  • the execution module when the execution module does not include the identification information of the non-network printing device in the locally stored print device data, the execution module is configured according to the identification information of the non-network printing device and the identification information of the host. A correspondence between the non-network printing device and the host is added to the printing device data.
  • the receiving module receives the identification information of the non-network printing device sent by the host by email and the identification information of the host.
  • the embodiment of the present invention further provides a host, which can be accessed in a network
  • the host includes a server network communication unit, a printing device communication control unit, a command parsing unit, a local area network monitoring unit, and a deleting unit
  • the server network communication a unit configured to implement communication between the command parsing unit and a print monitoring server in the network
  • the printing device communication control unit is configured to implement between the local area network monitoring unit and the non-network printing device connected to the host a command parsing unit configured to convert an execution instruction from the print monitoring server into a command recognizable by the non-network printing device and forward the command to the local area network monitoring unit to receive the command from the non-network printing device Responding and transmitting the response to the print monitoring server
  • the local area network monitoring unit is configured to send the command to the non-network printing device, and send the response to the command parsing unit
  • the deleting unit is configured to receive Deletion from the print monitoring server And deleting the locally stored device information of the non-
  • the command parsing unit is a mail processing unit.
  • the local area network monitoring unit is configured to monitor a status of the non-network printing device by the printing device communication control unit, and send status information of the non-network printing device to the print monitoring server through the server network communication unit.
  • the local area network monitoring unit detects that the non-network printing device is accessed, acquiring the non-network The identification information of the non-network printing device is obtained, and the state information of the non-network printing device is obtained according to the locally saved identification information of the non-network printing device;
  • the acquired status information of the non-network printing device is sent to the print monitoring server.
  • the local area network monitoring unit acquires status information of the non-network printing device when the identification information of the non-network printing device is not saved locally, and the device information of the non-network printing device and the identification information of the host Sending to the print monitoring server; wherein the device information includes the status information and the identification information of the non-network printing device.
  • the local area network monitoring unit when receiving the query request from the server network communication unit, sends a status request command to the non-network printing device, and receives, by the printing device communication control unit, the non-network printing device according to the status
  • the status information returned by the request command is sent to the print monitoring server.
  • An embodiment of the present invention further provides a non-network printing device, which can access a network through a host, where the device includes: a sending module, when the non-network printing device accesses the host, if the host is not previously saved And the identification information of the non-network printing device is sent to the host, and the current state information of the non-network printing device is sent to the host according to the status request command; the receiving module is in the non-network printing When the device accesses the host, if the host previously stores the identification information of the non-network printing device, the state request command sent by the host is received.
  • the sending module sends, according to the status request command, status information that has changed compared to the previous last access to the host.
  • An embodiment of the present invention further provides a printing device monitoring system, wherein the system comprises: a non-network printing device as described above; the non-network printing device as described above can be connected to the host as described above in the network And a print monitoring server as described above; wherein the host is connected to the receiving module of the print monitoring server via the network.
  • one or more embodiments of the present invention can effectively monitor non-network printing devices that are not directly connected to the network. After the non-network printing device replaces the host and accesses the network again, it can timely discover that the access relationship of the non-network printing device has changed. By indicating to the host that the non-network printing device previously accesses, information stored when the non-network printing device was previously connected to the network may be deleted on the previously accessed host, thereby ensuring that the monitoring server can accurately The correct host sends various commands for non-network printing devices, enabling accurate monitoring of non-network printing devices that have moved and changed the connected host.
  • FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a printing network system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 shows an appearance and hardware block diagram of a host in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 shows an appearance and hardware block diagram of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram showing functional blocks of a print monitoring module of a host according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the storage contents of a server database according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic flow chart of collecting device information of a non-network printing device by a host according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing monitoring of access by a non-network printing device by a printing device monitoring method according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing active monitoring of a non-network printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 9 is a view showing the configuration of a print monitoring server showing an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the embodiment of the present invention monitors a non-network printing device accessing the network through the host by using a host connected to the network, and monitors the non-network printing device through the host, and the host transmits the monitoring information to the print monitoring device. server.
  • Embodiments of the present invention are capable of sensing changes in the host to which the non-network printing device is connected, ensuring that the print monitoring server in the network can properly monitor the non-network printing device.
  • the printing network system 01 is in a network W150, which may be a public network, or a local area network or the like in an enterprise.
  • the print network system 01 includes a print monitoring server 100 and a network print set.
  • a device 110, 111, 112, a computer (or host, 120, 121, 122, 123), a router (130, 131), a non-network printing device (140, 141, 142, 143), and the like. These devices can communicate with each other via the network W150.
  • the print monitoring server 100 can monitor the printing devices on the network through a network monitoring protocol (such as the SNMP protocol), such as the network printing devices 110, 111, 112 in FIG. 1, and can also monitor the non-network printing devices 140, 141, 142 through the host. 143.
  • a network monitoring protocol such as the SNMP protocol
  • the network printing device includes a printing device (such as the network printing device 110) connected to the network W150 directly through a network interface card (such as a NIC, Network Interface Card), and includes accessing the network W150 through a wireless network interface.
  • the printing device such as the network printing device 112 communicates with the router 130 through the wireless network interface mode 153 (such as the IEEE No. 802.11b standard), is relayed by the router 130, and is connected to the network W150 and can be connected to the network W150.
  • Other devices communicate with each other.
  • the non-network printing device is directly connected to the host by wire or wirelessly, and is accessed by the host into the network W150.
  • the host can directly establish a connection with a non-network printing device by wire or wirelessly (peer-to-peer) through any of USB, serial port, parallel port, WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), Bluetooth, Zigbee (wireless personal area network), infrared, and the like.
  • the host here may be a general computer device such as the computer 122 shown in FIG. 1, or may be a mobile device such as a mobile phone, a notebook, a PAD (tablet), a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), as shown in FIG.
  • the mobile phone 123 and the notebook computer 121 are shown.
  • the non-network printing device 143 can communicate with the mobile phone 123 through a point-to-point wireless connection mode 151 (such as Bluetooth), and the mobile phone 123 connects to the network W150 via the router 131 via the wireless interface mode 152 (such as the IEEE No. 802.11b standard).
  • a point-to-point wireless connection mode 151 such as Bluetooth
  • the mobile phone 123 connects to the network W150 via the router 131 via the wireless interface mode 152 (such as the IEEE No. 802.11b standard).
  • one host can connect multiple non-network printing devices at the same time.
  • the host 120 in FIG. 1 simultaneously connects two non-network printing devices 140 and 141, so that several devices are connected together to form a small local area network.
  • L180 is connected to the network W150 through the firewall 170.
  • the network printing device can also be connected to the host through a local interface.
  • each host connected to the non-network printing device on the network W150 is used as a transit bridge, and the host obtains the state information of the non-network printing device, and then obtains the obtained non-network printing device.
  • the status information of the network printing device is transmitted to the print monitoring server 100 via the network W150.
  • the host 120 is locally connected to the non-network printing devices 140, 141 via wired cables 160 and 161 (such as a USB cable), and the host 120 acquires non-network printing devices 140, 141 through the cable cables 160 and 161.
  • the device information of the network printing devices 140, 141 is transmitted to the print monitoring server 100 via the network W150 together with the acquired device information of the non-network printing devices 140, 141 and the identification information of the host 120 itself.
  • the non-network printing device 143 is connected to the mobile phone 123 via a wireless interface 151 (such as Bluetooth).
  • the mobile phone 123 acquires device information of the non-network printing device 143 through the wireless interface 151, and obtains the device information and the mobile phone 123 itself.
  • the identification information is transmitted to the print monitoring server 100 in the network W150 through the relay of the wireless router 131.
  • the network printing device 110, 111, 112 does not require the relay of the host, and directly transmits its own device information to the print monitoring server 100 through the network W150.
  • FIG. 2 shows an appearance and hardware block diagram of host 120.
  • the host 120 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203, and an HDD (Hard Disk). Drive, hard disk drive 204, CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory) drive 206, input interface (I/F) 207, video interface (I/F) 208, local interface 209, wired network Interface 205 and wireless LAN adapter 210 (also called a wireless LAN card).
  • CPU Central Processing Unit
  • ROM Read Only Memory
  • RAM Random Access Memory
  • HDD Hard Disk
  • the CPU 201 mainly controls various functions of the host 120.
  • the ROM 202 mainly stores various programs such as a BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) that the CPU 201 executes in the startup process.
  • the RAM 203 is mainly used by the CPU 201 as a work memory.
  • the HDD 204 mainly stores various files including files of an operating system.
  • the CD-ROM drive 206 is mainly used to read data from a CD (Compact Disc).
  • the input interface (I/F) 207 is mainly configured to input an input signal from a keyboard or a mouse (not shown) on the host 120 to the CPU 201.
  • the video interface (I/F) 208 is primarily configured to display information on the display of the host 120 under the control of the CPU 201.
  • a wired network interface 205 such as Ethernet (registered trademark) is mainly configured to connect an access point or a router through a wired cable, and the host 120 is connected in the network W150.
  • the wireless LAN adapter 210 is primarily configured to connect the host 120 to an external device over a wireless connection in accordance with a wireless communication standard such as IEEE 802.11.
  • the host 120 connects peripheral devices, such as non-network printing devices, through a local interface 209. These components are connected to each other via a bus.
  • Figure 3 shows the appearance and hardware block diagram of the printing device.
  • the printing apparatus mainly includes a control unit 301, a storage unit 302, a cache unit 303, an engine control unit 304, a setting unit 305, an interface unit 306, and the like.
  • the control unit 301 (such as a CPU) mainly controls various operations of the printing apparatus.
  • the storage unit 302 (such as a ROM) mainly stores various operational programs such as a processing program when the control unit 301 starts printing.
  • the cache unit 303 (such as RAM, Flash) is mainly used by the control unit 301 as a work memory.
  • the engine control unit 304 is primarily configured to control printing operations of the printing device, such as controlling transfer, fixing, and the like.
  • the setting unit 305 mainly receives an instruction input by the user.
  • the interface unit 306 is used to connect with the host, and may include a local interface, a wired network interface, and a wireless LAN adapter.
  • the local interface is a USB interface, a serial port or the like as described above, and a wired network interface such as Ethernet (registered trademark) is configured to connect an access point or a router through a wired cable to connect the printing device to the network W150.
  • the wireless LAN adapter is mainly configured to pass no according to a wireless communication standard (such as IEEE802.11).
  • a wire connection communicates the printing device with an external device.
  • the interface unit 306 of the non-network printing device typically has only a local interface.
  • the interface unit 306 of the network printing device in the embodiment of the present invention may include one or both of a network interface and a wireless LAN adapter in addition to the local interface.
  • the user can choose to connect the network printing device to the host as a local device through the local interface or wireless LAN adapter, or connect the network printing device to the network through the network interface or wireless LAN adapter for use.
  • the printing apparatus of the embodiment is not limited thereto, and may be other image processing apparatuses such as a scanner, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction printer (MFP) that integrates printing, copying, scanning, and faxing. .
  • MFP multifunction printer
  • a print monitoring module 400 is disposed in the host 120 connected to the non-network printing device.
  • the print monitoring module 400 may include the following units: a server network communication unit 401, a print driving unit 402, a printing device communication control unit 403, a command parsing unit 404, a local area network monitoring unit 405, a host database 406, and deletion. Unit 407 and the like.
  • the server network communication unit 401 is mainly used to implement communication between the command parsing unit 404 and the print monitoring server 100.
  • the communication protocol used between the two and the print monitoring server 100 are consistent with the monitoring protocol adopted by the network printing device on the entire network W150, and may be, for example, an SNMP protocol or an HTTP (Hyper Text Transport Protocol). Protocol) protocol, TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) protocol, FTP (File Transfer Protocol) protocol, SMTP (Simple Message Transfer Protocol) protocol, etc. .
  • the print driving unit 402 is connected to the printing apparatus communication control unit 403, similar to a general driver of the printing apparatus, for generating print data that can be processed by the non-network printing apparatus, and transmitting the print data to the non-network printing apparatus.
  • the print driver unit 402 may also be separate and separate from the print monitor module 400.
  • the printing device communication control unit 403 is connected to the local area network monitoring unit 405, and is mainly used to implement communication between the local area network monitoring unit 405 and the non-network printing device.
  • Commonly used communication methods are USB, serial port, parallel port and other wired interface methods or Bluetooth, wifi direct connection and other wireless interface modes.
  • the command parsing unit 404 is connected to the server network communication unit 401, and is mainly configured to receive an execution instruction (such as various commands or queries) from the print monitoring server 100 forwarded by the server network communication unit 401, and package the execution instruction package.
  • the command that can be recognized by the non-network printing device is sent to the non-network printing device through the local area network monitoring unit 405 and the printing device communication control unit 403, and the receiving non-network printing device returns through the printing device communication control unit 403 and the local area network monitoring unit 405.
  • Response to the command and wrap the response The format of the communication protocol adopted on the network W150 is sent to the print monitoring server 100.
  • the local area network monitoring unit 405 is connected to the printing device communication control unit 403 and the command parsing unit 404 for monitoring the port of the non-network printing device on the host, and also managing the port of the non-network printing device connected to the host, monitoring the IP address, etc. Variety.
  • the local area network monitoring unit 405 forwards the command sent by the command parsing unit 404 to the non-network printing device to the printing device communication control unit 403, and the printing device communication control unit 403 transmits the command to the non-network printing device; and receives the non-network printing device.
  • the response is sent to the command parsing unit 404 for the response of the command.
  • the local area network monitoring unit 405 is further connected to the host database 406, and can send a status request command to the non-network printing device through the printing device communication control unit 403, and receive the status information returned by the non-network printing device according to the status request command, and simultaneously generate the current host. Identifying information (such as host name, IP address, etc.), storing the status information of the non-network printing device in combination with the identification information of the non-network printing device as part of the device information, in the host database 406, and the host database through the server network communication unit 401 The device information of the non-network printing device stored in 406 and the identification information of the current host are sent to the print monitoring server 100.
  • Identifying information such as host name, IP address, etc.
  • the local area network monitoring unit 405 transmits the processed command or queries to the non-network printing device according to the printing device communication control unit 403. At the same time, the result returned by the non-network printing device is sent to the print monitoring server 100 in the format of the communication protocol used by the command parsing unit 404 to be packaged on the network W150.
  • the host database 406 is configured to store device information of the non-network printing device connected to the current host.
  • the host database 406 of the host 120 stores device information of the non-network printing device 140, 141, and the information may include the non-network printing device.
  • the host database 406 also stores identification information for the host 120, such as the respective port numbers, host names, and host addresses of the non-network printing devices 104, 141 on the host 102.
  • the device information, the identification information of the host, and the correspondence data of the non-network printing device stored in the server database 500 for storing the printing device data connected to (or installed on) the print monitoring server 100 need to be consistent.
  • the deleting unit 407 is connected to the server network communication unit 401 and the host database 406, and is configured to receive a deletion instruction from the print monitoring server, and delete the previously accessed non-network printing device stored in the host database 406 according to the deletion instruction. Identification information.
  • the print monitoring server sends the delete command when the non-network printing device that the host has previously connected to interacts with the print monitoring server through another host.
  • the print monitoring module 400 may also not include the print driving unit 402.
  • the print driving unit 402 can be constructed as a component of a print driver constituting a printing device, which can be generated Printing data can also monitor the printing device.
  • the command parsing unit 404, the local area network monitoring unit 405, and the deleting unit 407 may be integrated into one unit, and the unit may perform respective functions of the three units of the command parsing unit 404, the local area network monitoring unit 405, and the deleting unit 407.
  • the print monitoring server 100 can be a general computer such as a workstation, a personal computer, or a server.
  • a print management server 100 is provided with a management module (not shown in FIG. 5) for connecting a server database 500 for storing print device data.
  • the printing device data may include a print job record, correspondence data indicating a correspondence between the non-network printing device and a host to which the non-network printing device is connected, a network tag 501, and the like.
  • the correspondence data indicates the correspondence between the device information of the non-network printing device and the identification information of the host to which the non-network printing device is connected.
  • the device information of the non-network printing device mainly includes at least one of a printing device name 502, a printing device manufacturer and product information 503, and printing device status information 504.
  • the identification information of the host mainly includes at least one of a host name 505, a host IP address 506, communication port information 507 on the host, and other information 508 of the host.
  • the print device name 502 can be the device serial number of the print device.
  • the networked tag 501 is used to identify whether the printing device is a networked printing device or a non-network printing device.
  • the printing device manufacturer and product information 503 is identical to that stored in the host database 406, and the printing device name 502 and the printing device manufacturer and product information 503 are identification information for identifying the printing device.
  • the printing device manufacturer and product information 503 includes the name of the printing brand, the model number of the product, and the port information of the printing device on the host (for example, the PID (product ID) of the USB interface of the non-network printing device, the VID. (vendor ID, supplier ID)).
  • the host name 505, the host IP address 506, the communication port information 507 on the host, and the host other information 508 may be collectively referred to as the identification information of the host, and are used to identify the host to which the current non-network printing device is connected.
  • the printing device status information 504 indicates information indicating status information of the printing device such as the number of printed pages, toner/ink remaining amount, jam condition, and the like.
  • the management module provided on the print monitoring server 100 stores the device information of the non-network printing device acquired by the print monitoring module 400 on the host in the server database 500.
  • the management module of the more common print monitoring server such as MPS, makes necessary adjustments and overall optimized deployment of the monitored equipment, and takes over the operations of the monitored equipment, replacement of supplies, maintenance and so on.
  • the corresponding relationship data indicating the correspondence between the non-network printing device and the host is stored in the server database 500, and specifically includes device information of the non-network printing device (for example, including the printing device name 502, the printing device manufacturer) And product information 503, printing device status information 504), corresponding host identification information (such as host name 505, host IP address 506, communication port information 507 on the host, host other information 508); host other information 508 can be the host Physical location information, etc.
  • device information of the network printing device can also be stored in the server database 500.
  • the device information of the network printing device may include a printing device name 502, a networked tag 501, a printing device manufacturer and product information 503, and printing device status information 504, wherein the networked tag 501 indicates that the printing device is a network printing device.
  • the server database 500 can also be divided into two storage areas, one storage area stores device information of the non-network printing device, and the other storage area stores device information of the network printing device.
  • the specific storage content please refer to the above description.
  • the networked tag 501 is obtained from the device information, and the network printing device and the non-network printing device are distinguished according to the identifier, so that the device information of the obtained printing device is conveniently stored in two regions. One.
  • FIG. 6 schematically illustrates how the host 120 accessed in the network W150 acquires and updates device information of the non-network printing device (140, 141). As shown in FIG. 6, this process mainly includes the following steps.
  • step S601 the print monitoring module 400 is installed on the host 120.
  • step S602 the host 120 monitors whether the non-network printing device (illustrated by taking the non-network printing device 140 as an example) access by using the installed print monitoring module 400.
  • the local area network monitoring unit 405 in the print monitoring module 400 monitors whether there is access to the non-network printing device. When it is detected that the non-network printing device is connected to the host 120, the process proceeds to step S603.
  • step S603 the host 120 acquires the detected identification information of the non-network printing device 140.
  • the communication device communication control unit 403 communicates with the non-network printing device 140 to obtain identification information of the non-network printing device 140, such as a printing device.
  • identification information such as a printing device.
  • the device serial number, the printing device manufacturer and product information, etc., are sent to the local area network monitoring unit 405 for analysis, and then proceeds to step S604.
  • step S604 the host 120 determines whether the identification information of the non-network printing device 140 is stored locally (in, for example, the host database 406 or a text file or the like).
  • the local area network monitoring unit 405 searches the host database 406 for any one or more pieces of information such as the device serial number, the printing device manufacturer, and the product information in the identification information to determine whether the previous storage is saved.
  • the acquired identification information of the non-network printing device whose identification information of the non-network printing device 140 is consistent.
  • step S605 If the result of the determination is that the identification information is not locally generated, it indicates that the accessed non-network printing device 140 is the first access (new access) printing device, and proceeds to step S605; otherwise, the non-network printing device 140 has previously accessed The host proceeds to step S606.
  • step S605 the host 120 acquires the device information of the newly accessed non-network printing device 140, and then proceeds to step S608.
  • the device information of the non-network printing device 140 may be from the host 120 to the non-network printing device 140.
  • the non-network printing device 140 responds to the device information request to provide to the host 120, or when the non-network printing device 140 accesses the host 120, it is actively sent to the host 120.
  • the local area network monitoring unit 405 monitors the newly accessed non-network printing device 140, and sends a request command through the printing device communication control unit 403 to request to acquire device information of the non-network printing device 140, such as a printer name and a printing device. Manufacturer and product information, printing device status information, etc.
  • the host 120 can greatly reduce the response time by receiving a query request from the print monitoring server 100 by monitoring whether there is a non-network printing device access and acquiring device information of the newly accessed non-network printing device according to the monitoring result. In order to compensate for the delay caused by the non-network printing device being unable to directly connect to the print monitoring server 100.
  • Step S606 acquiring current state information of the non-network printing device 140.
  • the host database 406 Since the non-network printing device 140 has previously accessed the host 120, the host database 406 has stored the device information of the accessed non-network printing device 140. Therefore, it can be detected whether the status information of the non-network printing device 140 has occurred. Change to determine if the host database 406 needs to be updated.
  • the local area network monitoring unit 405 sends a status request command to the accessed non-network printing device 140 through the printing device communication control unit 403, and the non-network printing device 140 returns current status information, such as toner/ink remaining amount, according to the command.
  • the number of printed pages is printed, whether there is an error or the like, and the local area network monitoring unit 405 receives the returned result in accordance with the printing device communication control unit 403, and proceeds to step S607.
  • Step S607 comparing whether the acquired state information of the non-network printing device 140 is consistent with the state information of the non-network printing device 140 previously saved in the host database 406 to determine whether the host database 406 needs to be updated.
  • the status information of the non-network printing device 140 in the host database 406 is compared with the status information of the acquired non-network printing device 140.
  • the local area network monitoring unit 405 compares with the status information of the non-network printing device 140 in the host database 406 according to the acquired status information, and if there is no difference indicating that the host database 406 does not need to be updated, the process ends; if there is a difference indication The host database 406 needs to be updated, and the flow proceeds to step S608.
  • steps S606 and S607 it is also possible to determine whether to update the host database 406 according to whether the connected printing device has a status change.
  • step S606 the local area network monitoring unit 405 sends a status request command to the accessed non-network printing device 140 through the printing device communication control unit 403, and the non-network printing device 140 receives the status request command according to whether it is based on itself.
  • a state change returns the corresponding information. If the printing device has a status change, the changed status information is returned, for example, the jam information is updated, only the jam information is returned, and if there is a change in the remaining amount of toner, the information on the remaining amount of the toner is returned. It should be noted that, for a non-network printing device that has accessed the host, it is possible to return only the status information that the current access has changed compared to the latest access, without returning all the information. Status information. If there is no state change, then no information is returned for the state change.
  • step S607 the process proceeds to step S608, the host 120 acquires the status information of the accessed non-network printing device 140, updates the host database 406, and transmits the acquired device information of the non-network printing device 140 to the print monitoring server 100. And vice versa.
  • the print monitoring server 100 updates the state information of the non-network printing device 140 in the print device data stored by the print monitoring server 500 based on the state information in the device information of the non-network printing device 140 received from the host 120.
  • step S608 the host records the device information acquired in step S605 to the host database 406 to update the host database 406, or updates the state information of the non-network printing device that has been changed in the host database 406 according to step S607.
  • the local area network monitoring unit 405 stores the device information of the newly accessed non-network printing device 140 in combination with the identification information of the host 120 in the host database 406, and updates the device information of the host database 406. For non-network printing devices that are not newly accessed, the changed status information is updated into the host database 406.
  • the host 120 can transmit the device information of the non-network printing device 140 and the identification information of the host to the print monitoring server 100.
  • FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing monitoring of access by a non-network printing device by a printing device monitoring method according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • the processing flow of the print monitoring server 100 monitoring the access of the non-network printing device will be described below with reference to FIG.
  • Step S701 the print monitoring server 100 accessing the network W150 receives the device information and the host 120 of the non-network printing device (illustrated by taking the non-network printing device 140 as an example) sent from the host 120 connected to the network W150.
  • Identification information The non-network printing device 140 is connected to the host 120, and accesses the network W150 through the host 120.
  • the device information of the non-network printing device 140 mainly includes the identification information of the non-network printing device 140 and the status information.
  • Step S702 the print monitoring server 100 determines whether the non-network printing is included in the printing device data based on the printing device data that has been stored in the server database 500 and the device information of the non-network printing device 140 received from the host 120.
  • the identification information of the device 140 is stored in the server database 500 in this embodiment.
  • the print monitoring server 100 searches for the presence or absence of the identification information of the non-network printing device 140 in the device information of the non-network printing device 140. If yes, the determination result is included. Otherwise, the determination result is no. include. If the result of the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step 703. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S708.
  • step S703 the print control server 100 determines the host identification information corresponding to the non-network printing device 140 in the print device data stored in the server database 500 as the host that has been accessed before (hereinafter referred to as the previous host).
  • the identification information is determined, and it is determined whether the identification information of the previous host is consistent with the received identification information of the host 120. If it is determined that the match is made, the process proceeds to step S706, whereas if it is determined that the match is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S704.
  • Step S704 if the identification information of the previous host does not match the identification information of the received host 120, the print monitoring server 100 sends a delete instruction for instructing deletion of the device information of the non-network printing device 140 to the previous host.
  • step S705 based on the received device information of the non-network printing device 140 and the identification information of the host 120 itself, the corresponding relationship data indicating the correspondence between the non-network printing device 140 and the host 120 is updated in the printing device data. .
  • updating the correspondence data may specifically update the identification information of the host corresponding to the non-network printing device 140 to the identification information of the host 120.
  • FIG. 5 for the correspondence data format.
  • step S703 In the case where it is determined that the inconsistency is not satisfied in step S703, the order of execution of steps S704 and S705 is not limited.
  • the print monitoring server 100 transmits a delete instruction for instructing deletion of the device information of the non-network printing device 140 to the previous host.
  • the print monitoring server 100 also updates the information of the corresponding host of the non-network printing device 140, thus avoiding the prior art non-network printing device 140.
  • the device information storage is confusing, and it is even impossible to properly monitor the technical problems of these non-network printing devices that have changed the connection host.
  • the print monitoring server 100 can track the host change of the non-network printing device at any time. For the host, each time there is a newly accessed non-network printing device, the print monitoring server 100 can be notified in time.
  • the new host will actively feed back the changed situation to the print monitoring server 100, and the print monitoring server 100 notifies the previous host.
  • the non-network printing device has been moved and connected to another host, so that the technical problem that the non-network printing device that has changed the connected host after the mobile has been properly monitored can be well solved.
  • the deletion instruction may be sent by the management module of the print monitoring server 100 to the server network communication unit 401 in the previous host, and the local area network monitoring unit 405 of the previous host deletes the device of the non-network printing device 140 saved in the host database 406 according to the deletion instruction. information.
  • step S706 it is determined that the identification information of the host previously stored in the server database 500 is consistent with the received identification information of the host 120, indicating that the currently accessed non-network printing device 140 has been registered for printing.
  • the monitoring server 100 it is further determined in this step 706 whether the device information of the received non-network printing device 140 is consistent with the device information of the non-network printing device 140 that the print monitoring server 100 has saved. Specifically, the management module compares whether the received device information is consistent with the corresponding device information that has been stored in the server database 500. If not, the process proceeds to step S707; if they are consistent, the received non-network printing device 140 is received. The device information has not changed, and is the same as the device information already stored in the server data 500, so the update is omitted and the process ends.
  • Step S707 updating the device information of the non-network printing device 140 in the printing device data of the print monitoring server 100 based on the received device information of the non-network printing device 140.
  • step S708 since it is determined that the identification information of the non-network printing device 140 is not included in the print device data, in this step, the print monitoring server 100 according to the received device information and the device of the non-network printing device 140.
  • the identification information of the host 120 is used to add correspondence data indicating the correspondence between the non-network printing device 140 and the host 120 in the printing device data (implemented by the server database 500 in this embodiment).
  • FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing active monitoring of a non-network printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the print monitoring server 100 periodically or irregularly transmits the identification information of the non-network printing device stored in the server database 500 (printing device data) and its corresponding host identification information to each host.
  • the query request for querying the status information of the non-network printing device is specifically described in steps S801 and S802.
  • the print monitoring server 100 can ensure that the print device data saved by the print monitoring server 100 can reflect the connection status and usage of each non-network printing device more timely and accurately by parsing the response message sent by the host for the query request.
  • the non-network printing device is monitored like a network printing device that monitors the access network.
  • step S801 the print monitoring server 100 periodically or irregularly acquires host information connected to each non-network printing device stored in the print device data.
  • the management module acquires each non-network printing device from the server database 500 connected to the print monitoring server 100 or installed in the print monitoring server 100.
  • the information of the host is obtained, for example, the host name 505, the host IP address 506, and the like are obtained, and the process proceeds to step S802.
  • Step S802 after the host information of each non-network printing device saved in the printing device data is acquired, the print monitoring server 100 sends the status information for querying the non-network printing device to each host corresponding to each acquired host information. Query request.
  • the management module of the print monitoring server 100 can communicate according to the obtained host information (such as an IP address).
  • the network W150 sends a query request to the server network communication unit 401 of the host.
  • the query request is sent mainly through the SNMP protocol, and the query request may include identification information of a non-network printing device that needs to be monitored, such as a printing device serial number, a printing device manufacturer, and/or product information.
  • the host that receives the query request determines whether it is connected to the non-network printing device in the query request it receives. If the determination is no, the host sends a query about the unconnected query to the print monitoring server 100.
  • the response of the non-network printing device specified in the request is described in detail below by steps S803 to S809.
  • Step S803 the host determines, according to the query request sent by the print monitoring server, whether the host database 406 of the host saves the information of the non-network printing device to be queried specified in the query request.
  • the local area network monitoring unit 405 matches the identification information of the non-network printing device stored in the host database 406 according to the identification information of the non-network printing device in the received query request, and if the matching succeeds, the previous access has been performed.
  • the non-network printing device corresponding to the identification information carried in the query request proceeds to step S804; if the matching is unsuccessful, it indicates that the current host has not connected the corresponding non-network printing device, and the process proceeds to step S810.
  • Step S804 The host determines, according to the online mark of the non-network printing device that it saves, whether it is in a connected state with the non-network printing device in the query request it receives.
  • the local area network monitoring unit 405 detects whether the non-network printing device is currently connected, and if the host is not connected to the non-network printing If the device indicates that the monitored non-network printing device is not online, the process proceeds to step S810; if the host is connected to the non-network printing device and the non-network printing device is in the power-on state, the process proceeds to step S805. Since the online mark of the non-network printing device is stored in advance, the response speed of the host to the print monitoring server 100 can be accelerated.
  • Step S805 the host sends a status request command to the non-network printing device.
  • the local area network monitoring unit 405 sends a status request command to the non-network printing device currently connected to the host by the printing device communication control unit 403 to obtain the current state of the non-network printing device, and proceeds to step S806.
  • step S810 if the host is connected to the non-network printing device, but the non-network printing device is powered off, it may proceed to step S810.
  • Step S806 after the host sends the status request command to the non-network printing device, the host will obtain the status information returned by the non-network printing device.
  • the non-network printing device returns the information such as the number of printed pages, the remaining amount of toner/ink, and the error status as the current status information to the local area network monitoring unit according to the received status request command. 405. Proceed to step S807.
  • Step S807 the host determines, according to the received status information returned by the non-network printing device, whether the host database needs to be updated.
  • the local area monitoring unit 405 analyzes the returned status information and compares the original printing device status information of the non-network printing device corresponding to the host database 406. If there is a change, the process proceeds to step S808. If there is no change, it means that the current state of the non-network printing device connected to the host has not changed, and it is not necessary to update the host database 406 and the server database 500, and the process ends.
  • step S806 the non-network printing device may also return only the changed status information to the host.
  • step S807 determines that the host database needs to be updated, and conversely, the result of the determination in step S807 is NO.
  • step S808 the host sends the status information of the non-network printing device to be queried to the print monitoring server 100.
  • the local area network monitoring unit 405 can convert the status information of the changed non-network printing device to the data that the print monitoring server 100 can recognize through the command parsing unit 404, and feed back the converted non-network printing device through the server network communication unit 401.
  • the status information is sent to the print monitoring server 100, and the flow proceeds to step S809.
  • step S809 the print monitoring server 100 updates the server database 500 according to the received state information of the non-network printing device.
  • the management module of the print monitoring server 100 may update the state information of the corresponding non-network printing device in the server database 500 according to the received state information of the non-network printing device.
  • Step S810 cancel monitoring of the non-network printing device to be queried.
  • the local area network monitoring unit 405 transmits a response to the non-network printing device specified in the received query request to the print monitoring server 100 through the server network communication unit 401 to instruct the print monitoring server to cancel the non-network printing device. Monitoring, monitoring is over.
  • the server network communication unit 401 of the print monitoring module 400 in the host receives the query request and forwards it to the command parsing unit 404 in the print monitoring module 400.
  • the command parsing unit 404 converts the query request sent from the print monitoring server 100 into data recognizable by the non-network printing device and transmits it to the local area network monitoring unit 405.
  • the local area network monitoring unit 405 directly transmits the converted query request to the non-network printing device via the printing device communication control unit 403.
  • the non-network printing device returns corresponding status information, and the returned status information is sent to the print monitoring server 100 according to the network monitoring protocol by the local area network monitoring unit 405.
  • the query request issued by the print monitoring server 100 can be directly transferred to the non-network printing device by conversion.
  • the print monitoring server 100 can display the current non-network printing device model, the connected host model, the address, the physical address of the host, and the current state information through the user interface (UI) of the management module according to the acquired state information, or browse by The device displays the information of the non-network printing device in a webpage manner, so that the administrator or the maintenance personnel can know the status information of the current non-network printing device in time.
  • UI user interface
  • the toner cartridge/ink cartridge can be ordered in time on the print monitoring server 100.
  • the print monitoring server 100 can not only monitor and manage the device information of the non-network printing device, but also set the non-network printing device.
  • the device information of the non-network printing device is obtained from the server database 500 through the user interface or the webpage of the management module, and parameter setting is performed on the non-network printing device.
  • the print status information notification mode you can set the status type of the notification, the notification method such as mail, the destination of the notification, etc.; also set the imaging conditions of the printing device, such as print gradation, print color, scan, Copy parameters, sleep time, etc.; at the same time, you can set the network monitoring conditions of non-network printing devices, you can set the monitoring time frequency, and select the type of status that needs to be monitored.
  • the print monitoring server 100 can poll the host of the non-network printing device at a set time frequency to acquire state information of the non-network printing device at the same time.
  • the host it is also possible for the host to automatically notify the print monitoring server 100 when there is an update of the connected non-network printing device.
  • the set parameters may be sent by the management module to the host connected to the selected non-network printing device.
  • the server network communication unit 401 of the host can be converted into a non-network printing device by the command parsing unit 404.
  • the data monitoring unit 405 transmits the converted setting command to the selected non-network printing device through the printing device communication control unit 403, thereby realizing the remote setting of the target of the non-networked printing device via the network W150.
  • step S803 it is not determined in the above step S803 whether the host database stores the information of the non-network printing device to be queried specified in the query request, but the host directly detects whether it is related to the non-network to be queried.
  • the printing device is in the connected state. If it is in the connected state, the process directly proceeds to step S805 or directly to step S808. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S810.
  • command parsing unit 404 in the print monitoring module 400 of the host can be a mail processing unit.
  • the monitoring of the non-network printing device in this embodiment is performed by means of mail.
  • the host connects to the new non-network printing device, according to the device information acquired by the local area network monitoring unit 405 and The identification information of the host is encapsulated into a mail format by the mail processing unit in the print monitoring module 400, and sent to the management module of the print monitoring server 100 by the server network communication unit 401 under the SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) protocol.
  • the server database 500 is registered or updated with the corresponding relationship data for the accessed non-network printing device.
  • the management module of the print monitoring server 100 monitors the non-network printing device, the mail is sent to the host of the non-network printing device, and the mail includes a query request command, and the mail processing unit of the host parses the server network communication unit 401 receives the mail.
  • the mail, the status request command that the query request is converted into a non-network printing device can be sent to the local area network monitoring unit 405, and the local area network monitoring unit 405 sends the status request command to the non-network printing device through the printing device communication unit 403, and receives the non-network.
  • the result returned by the printing device is converted into the format of the mail by the mail processing unit, and sent to the print monitoring server 100 through the server network communication unit 401.
  • the print monitoring server 900 of the embodiment of the present invention can be accessed in the network W150, and mainly includes a receiving module 910, a determining module 920, and an executing module 930.
  • the receiving module 910 receives the identification information of the non-network printing device sent by the host and the identification information of the host.
  • the non-network printing device is connected to the host and accesses the network W150 through the host.
  • the host can send the status information of the non-network printing device together.
  • the host may send the identification information and status information of the non-network printing device as the device information of the non-network printing device to the print monitoring server 900 together with the identification information of the host.
  • the determining module 920 is connected to the receiving module 910.
  • the printing device data stored locally by the print monitoring server 900 includes the identification information of the non-network printing device
  • the non-network printing device has previously accessed the network W150 through a certain host.
  • the host identification information corresponding to the non-network printing device in the printing device data is determined as the identification information of the previous host, so that when the previous host is inconsistent with the current host, the host accessed by the non-network printing device is updated. .
  • the execution module 930 is connected to the determining module 920.
  • the non-network printing device has previously accessed the network W150 through the previous host, and the non-network printing device passes the new The host is connected to the network W150.
  • the previous host storing the identification information of the non-network printing device is deleted according to the identification information of the previous host, and the identification information of the non-network printing device is deleted, so that the non-network printing device previously accesses the history information of the network W150 through the previous host. Was deleted.
  • the non-network printing device is updated to correspond to the host in the printing device data according to the identification information of the non-network printing device and the identification information of the host, indicating that the non-network printing device is currently accessed by the current host in the network W150. .
  • the print monitoring server of the embodiment of the present invention may further include a sending module 940, which mainly sends a query request to the host to learn related information of the non-network printing device that accesses the network W150 through the host.
  • the receiving module 910 receives the status information sent by the host from the non-network printing device or the response of the non-network printing device.
  • the host can obtain its state information from the non-network printing device; if the non-network printing device has disconnected from the host at this time, it is offline (not When the network is connected to the network W150, the host cannot query the non-network printing device, and at this time, sends a response to the print monitoring server that is not connected to the non-network printing device. The host obtains status information from the non-network printing device according to the query request.
  • the receiving module 910 when receiving the identification information of the non-network printing device and the identification information of the host sent by the host, the receiving module 910 also receives the state information of the non-network printing device sent by the host; wherein, the host monitors the non-network When the network printing device is accessed, the identification information of the non-network printing device is acquired; when the identification information of the non-network printing device is not saved locally, the host acquires the state information of the non-network printing device.
  • the receiving module 910 receives the state information of the non-network printing device acquired by the host; the executing module 930 updates the state information of the non-network printing device in the printing device data according to the state information of the non-network printing device acquired by the host;
  • the host saves the identification information of the non-network printing device locally, the host obtains the state information of the non-network printing device according to the identification information of the locally saved non-network printing device; the state information of the non-network printing device saved locally and the obtained information
  • the host sends the acquired status information of the non-network printing device to the print monitoring server.
  • the execution module 930 adds the non-network to the printing device data according to the identification information of the non-network printing device and the identification information of the host. The correspondence between the printing device and the host.
  • the receiving module 910 receives the identification information of the non-network printing device sent by the host by email and the identification information of the host.
  • the non-network printing device in this document refers to a printing device that is not directly connected to the network, but it can be connected to the network indirectly through a computer, a smart phone, or the like.
  • the print monitoring module 400 of the host determines whether it is a new access device. If it is a new access device, the identification information of the non-network device is obtained and saved in the host database 406, and the identification information of the newly accessed non-network printing device and the identification information of the host are sent to the print monitoring server 900. And corresponding data of the newly accessed non-network printing device and the host is established in the database 500 of the print monitoring server 900. If the newly accessed non-network printing device has corresponding correspondence data in the printing device data, it is determined whether it is necessary to update the host in the corresponding relationship data. Identify information.
  • the host does not send the identification information of the accessed non-network printing device to the print monitoring server 900 and Obtaining the identification information of the host, but acquiring status information of the accessed non-network printing device, and if there is a status information change, feeding back to the print monitoring server 900 to make the access to the non-network printing device in the printing device data Device information is updated.
  • the host determines, according to the device information stored in the host database 406, whether the accessed non-network printing device is a new access device, and if it is a new access device.
  • the device is automatically fed back to the print monitoring server 900 to establish or update the correspondence data of the new access device and the host in the print device data. If not, the host only feeds back the status information of the accessed non-network printing device to the print.
  • Monitoring server 900 In the network W150, each time the host has a non-network printing device connection, after the above description, the print monitoring server 900 can accurately grasp the change information of the host and the host connected to each non-network printing device, and then pass through FIG. 8 The control flow is shown to accurately monitor each non-network printing device in real time.
  • the non-network printing device can be shared and used by each host. For example, if the user on the host 122 wants to use the non-network printing device 140, the status of the non-network printing device 140 is acquired through the print monitoring server 900. Make a print selection. Specifically, the status information of the non-network printing device 140 is requested by the print monitoring module 400 on the host 122 by the print monitoring module 400. The print monitoring server 900 sends a status request command to the host 120 according to the request, and the host 120 responds to the command and returns correspondingly.
  • the print monitoring server 900 feeds back the status information returned by the host 120 to the print monitoring module 400 of the host 122, and the user can know the status of the non-network print device, such as whether it is online, whether it can be printed, or the like. This makes it easy for the user to know the status of the non-network printing device on other hosts at any time in order to select a printing device that can be used.
  • the user can obtain the status information of each non-network printing device in the network W150 through the print monitoring module 400 of the host 122.
  • the print monitoring module 400 of the host 122 can request each of the print device data from the print monitoring server 900.
  • the status information of the non-network printing device is displayed, and the status list of each non-network printing device is displayed on the interface of the print monitoring module 400, and the user can select one of the non-network printing devices that can be used for print setting.
  • the print monitoring module 400 of the host 122 can send a status request of the non-network printing device to the print monitoring module 400 of the other host through the relay of the print monitoring server 900, and obtain the non-network printing device connected to each host in the network W150.
  • the hosts that can communicate with each other can obtain the state information of the non-network printing device connected to the other party through the print control module 400 of the host.
  • the print monitoring module 400 of the host 122 can print to the host 120.
  • the monitoring module 400 sends a status request, and the print monitoring module 400 of the host 120 returns to its own host database 406 according to the status request. Status information for non-network printing devices in .
  • the non-network printing device that can access the network W150 through the host in the embodiment of the present application mainly includes a sending module and a receiving module.
  • the sending module is configured to send, when the non-network printing device accesses the host, the identification information of the non-network printing device to the host if the host does not previously store the identification information of the non-network printing device, and Sending current status information of the non-network printing device to the host according to the status request command.
  • the receiving module is configured to receive the status request command sent by the host if the non-network printing device accesses the host, if the host previously stores the identification information of the non-network printing device.
  • the sending module may send, according to the status request command, status information that has changed compared to the previous last access to the host.
  • Embodiments of the present application also provide a printing device monitoring system including the aforementioned non-network printing device, a host that can access the aforementioned non-network printing device to the network W150, and a print monitoring server as described above.
  • the host is connected to the receiving module of the print monitoring server through the network W150.

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Abstract

本发明公开了一种打印设备监控方法和***以及打印监控服务器，克服目前打印监控服务器无法监控改变连接主机后的非网络打印机的缺陷，该方法中，打印监控服务器接收主机发送的非网络打印设备的识别信息及主机的识别信息；非网络打印设备通过主机接入网络；先前主机的识别信息与主机的识别信息不一致时，根据先前主机的识别信息指示存储有非网络打印设备的识别信息的先前主机删除非网络打印设备的识别信息，根据非网络打印设备的识别信息及主机的识别信息将非网络打印设备更新为与主机对应。本发明的实施例保证了监控服务器可以准确地向正确的主机发送针对非网络打印设备的各种命令，能够对改变了连接主机的非网络打印设备进行准确的监控。

Description

打印设备监控方法和***以及打印监控服务器
相关技术的交叉引用
本申请要求享有2014年09月01日提交的名称为：“打印设备监控方法和***以及打印监控服务器”的中国专利申请CN201410441446.8的优先权，其全部内容通过引用并入本文中。
技术领域
本发明涉及打印技术，尤其涉及一种打印设备监控方法和***以及打印监控服务器。
背景技术
当前打印机的应用，随着互联网打印的普及，越来越多的文档通过网络传输到打印机进行打印输出，同时也要求打印机能够被网络上的打印监控服务器(比方说MPS，Managed print services，文印管理服务)所监控和管理。通过打印监控服务器的网络监控，打印机的使用状态能够被实时获取。例如，打印机的印刷数量、碳粉或墨水的剩余量、打印纸张的补充信息、发生的错误信息等状态信息需要被及时监控，以便对打印机进行及时维护。
特别是打印需求量比较大的企业公司、政府机关等，他们都希望对其内部使用的全部打印机进行恰当管理，尤其是对打印机的消耗品如打印纸、墨粉、碳粉等需要进行及时的补充和订购管理，打印管理服务器能够通过网络监控协议(如SNMP(Simple Network Management Protocol，简单网络管理协议))对企业内部的所有网络打印机进行统一管理。
但是，一些不直接连接网络的打印机(简称非网络打印机)只支持USB(Universal Serial Bus，通用串行总线)、串口(如RS323、RS485)或者并口等接口，并通过这些接口与计算机相连，这些打印机并不支持网络监控协议。另外，在某些特殊的场合(比方说安全保密程度要求比较高的企业部门、国家机关)，或者希望控制打印机成本等的情况下，打印监控服务器无法对这些不连接网络的打印机进行管理。
同时，上述的不直接连接网络的打印机具备结构简单、功能简洁以及使用便利等诸 多优点，因此目前仍然被大量的用户选用，特别是对于不熟悉打印机的用户，在选择打印机的时候更倾向于操作简便便捷的打印机。因此，对这些不连接网络的打印机的管理和监控，仍然是必要的。
针对上面的问题，已经有美国公开专利US20050097198提出了利用与非网络打印机本地连接的主机上的网络功能作为中转桥梁，把非网络打印机需要被监控的信息通过USB等非网络通讯方式传送到网络中的监控设备的方案。这个方案解决了对非网络打印设备的一些监控问题。
但是，本发明的发明人注意到，很多非网络打印设备是可以移动的，也就是其可以从一个主机移到并连接到另外一个主机，目前的打印监控服务器没有合适的机制来监控这种变化，导致打印监控服务器可能会把监控命令发送到不正确的主机上，甚至无法正确监控这些已经移动并改变连接主机的非网络打印机。US20050097198也没公开监控非网络打印机的主机变化的技术。
发明内容
本发明所要解决的技术问题之一是克服目前打印监控服务器无法监控改变连接主机后的非网络打印机的缺陷。
为了解决上述技术问题，本发明首先提供了一种打印设备监控方法，接入网络的打印监控服务器执行如下步骤：接收主机发送的非网络打印设备的识别信息及所述主机的识别信息；所述非网络打印设备与所述主机连接并通过所述主机接入所述网络；本地存储的打印设备数据中包括所述非网络打印设备的识别信息时，将所述打印设备数据中与所述非网络打印设备对应的主机识别信息确定为先前主机的识别信息；所述先前主机的识别信息与所述主机的识别信息不一致时，根据所述先前主机的识别信息指示存储有所述非网络打印设备的识别信息的所述先前主机删除所述非网络打印设备的识别信息，根据所述非网络打印设备的识别信息及所述主机的识别信息在所述打印设备数据中将所述非网络打印设备更新为与所述主机对应。
优选地，所述方法还包括：所述打印监控服务器向所述主机发送查询请求，并接收所述主机发送的从所述非网络打印设备获取的状态信息或者未连接所述非网络打印设备的响应；其中，所述主机根据所述查询请求从所述非网络打印设备获取所述状态信息。
优选地，所述打印监控服务器接收所述主机发送的所述非网络打印设备的识别信息及所述主机的识别信息时，还一并接收所述主机发送的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息；其中，所述主机监测到所述非网络打印设备接入时，获取所述非网络打印设备的识 别信息；所述主机在本地未保存所述非网络打印设备的识别信息时，获取所述非网络打印设备的状态信息。
优选地，所述打印监控服务器接收所述主机获取的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息，并根据所述主机获取的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息更新所述打印设备数据中的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息；其中，所述主机在本地保存有所述非网络打印设备的识别信息时，根据本地保存的所述非网络打印设备的识别信息获取所述非网络打印设备的状态信息；在本地保存的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息与所述获取的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息不一致时，所述主机将所述获取的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息发送给所述打印监控服务器。
优选地，该方法还包括：本地存储的所述打印设备数据中不包括所述非网络打印设备的识别信息时，所述打印监控服务器根据所述非网络打印设备的识别信息及所述主机的识别信息在所述打印设备数据中添加所述非网络打印设备与所述主机之间的对应关系。
优选地，所述打印监控服务器接收所述主机通过电子邮件发送的所述非网络打印设备的识别信息及所述主机的识别信息。
本发明的实施例还提供了一种打印监控服务器，所述打印监控服务器可接入在网络中，其中，该打印监控服务器包括：接收模块，接收主机发送的非网络打印设备的识别信息及所述主机的识别信息；所述非网络打印设备与所述主机连接并通过所述主机接入所述网络；确定模块，本地存储的打印设备数据中包括所述非网络打印设备的识别信息时，将所述打印设备数据中与所述非网络打印设备对应的主机识别信息确定为先前主机的识别信息；执行模块，所述先前主机的识别信息与所述主机的识别信息不一致时，根据所述先前主机的识别信息指示存储有所述非网络打印设备的识别信息的所述先前主机删除所述非网络打印设备的识别信息，根据所述非网络打印设备的识别信息及所述主机的识别信息在所述打印设备数据中将所述非网络打印设备更新为与所述主机对应。
优选地，所述打印监控服务器还包括：发送模块，向所述主机发送查询请求；所述接收模块接收所述主机发送的从所述非网络打印设备获取的状态信息或者未连接所述非网络打印设备的响应；其中，所述主机根据所述查询请求从所述非网络打印设备获取所述状态信息。
优选地，所述接收模块接收所述主机发送的所述非网络打印设备的识别信息及所述主机的识别信息时，还一并接收所述主机发送的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息；其中，所述主机监测到所述非网络打印设备接入时，获取所述非网络打印设备的识别信 息；所述主机在本地未保存所述非网络打印设备的识别信息时，获取所述非网络打印设备的状态信息。
优选地，所述接收模块接收所述主机获取的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息；所述执行模块根据所述主机获取的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息更新所述打印设备数据中的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息；其中，所述主机在本地保存有所述非网络打印设备的识别信息时，根据本地保存的所述非网络打印设备的识别信息获取所述非网络打印设备的状态信息；在本地保存的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息与所述获取的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息不一致时，所述主机将所述获取的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息发送给所述打印监控服务器。
优选地，所述执行模块在本地存储的所述打印设备数据中不包括所述非网络打印设备的识别信息时，根据所述非网络打印设备的识别信息及所述主机的识别信息在所述打印设备数据中添加所述非网络打印设备与所述主机之间的对应关系。
优选地，所述接收模块接收所述主机通过电子邮件发送的所述非网络打印设备的识别信息及所述主机的识别信息。
本发明的实施例还提供了一种主机，可以接入在网络中，该主机包括服务器网络通讯单元、打印设备通讯控制单元、命令解析单元、局域网监控单元以及删除单元，其中：该服务器网络通讯单元，设置为实现该命令解析单元与所述网络中的打印监控服务器之间的通讯；该打印设备通讯控制单元，设置为实现该局域网监控单元与该主机所连接的非网络打印设备之间的通讯；该命令解析单元，设置为将来自该打印监控服务器的执行指令封装转换成该非网络打印设备能够识别的命令并转发给所述局域网监控单元，接收来自该非网络打印设备对该命令的响应并将该响应封装后发送给该打印监控服务器；该局域网监控单元，设置为将该命令发送给该非网络打印设备，并将该响应发送给该命令解析单元；该删除单元，设置为接收来自该打印监控服务器的删除指令，并根据该删除指令删除本地存储的先前曾经接入过的非网络打印设备的设备信息；该打印监控服务器在该主机先前曾经连接过的非网络打印设备通过另一主机与所述打印监控服务器进行交互时发送所述删除指令。
优选地，该命令解析单元为邮件处理单元。
优选地，该局域网监控单元设置为通过该打印设备通讯控制单元监控所述非网络打印设备的状态，将所述非网络打印设备的状态信息通过所述服务器网络通讯单元发送给所述打印监控服务器。
优选地，所述局域网监控单元检测到所述非网络打印设备接入时，获取所述非网络 打印设备的识别信息，在本地保存有所述非网络打印设备的识别信息时，根据本地保存的所述非网络打印设备的识别信息获取所述非网络打印设备的状态信息；在本地保存的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息与所述获取的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息不一致时，将所述获取的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息发送给所述打印监控服务器。
优选地，所述局域网监控单元在本地未保存所述非网络打印设备的识别信息时，获取所述非网络打印设备的状态信息，并将该非网络打印设备的设备信息和该主机的识别信息发送给该打印监控服务器；其中该设备信息包括该状态信息及该非网络打印设备的识别信息。
优选地，当从所述服务器网络通讯单元接到查询请求时，所述局域网监控单元向该非网络打印设备发送状态请求命令，并通过该打印设备通讯控制单元接收该非网络打印设备根据该状态请求命令返回的状态信息发送给该打印监控服务器。
本发明的实施例还提供了一种非网络打印设备，可通过主机接入网络，其中，该设备包括：发送模块，在该非网络打印设备接入该主机时，如果该主机之前未保存有该非网络打印设备的识别信息时则向该主机发送该非网络打印设备的识别信息，并根据状态请求命令向该主机发送该非网络打印设备当前的状态信息；接收模块，在该非网络打印设备接入该主机时，如果该主机之前保存有该非网络打印设备的识别信息则接收该主机所发送的该状态请求命令。
优选地，该发送模块根据该状态请求命令向该主机发送与之前的最近一次接入该主机相比已经发生改变的状态信息。
本发明的实施例还提供了一种打印设备监控***，其中，该***包括：如上所述的非网络打印设备；可将如上所述的非网络打印设备接入网络中的如上所述的主机；以及如上所述的打印监控服务器；其中，所述主机通过所述网络与所述打印监控服务器的接收模块相连。
与现有技术相比，本发明的一个或多个实施例可以有效监控到不是直接接入网络中的非网络打印设备。在非网络打印设备更换主机再次接入到网络中后，能够及时发现该非网络打印设备的接入关系发生了变化。通过向该非网络打印设备先前所接入的主机进行指示，可以在该先前所接入的主机上删除该非网络打印设备先前接入网络时所存储的信息，保证了监控服务器可以准确地向正确的主机发送针对非网络打印设备的各种命令，能够对已经移动并改变了连接主机的非网络打印设备进行准确的监控。
本发明的其他优点、目标和特征在某种程度上将在随后的说明书中进行阐述，并且在某种程度上，基于对下文的考察研究对本领域技术人员而言将是显而易见的，或者可 以从本发明的实践中得到教导。本发明的目标和其他优点可以通过下面的说明书，权利要求书，以及附图中所特别指出的结构来实现和获得。
附图说明
附图用来提供对本发明的进一步理解，并且构成说明书的一部分，与本发明的实施例共同用于解释本发明，并不构成对本发明的限制。
图1表示根据本发明实施例的打印网络***的示意图。
图2表示根据本发明实施例的主机的外观和硬件框图。
图3表示根据本发明实施例的打印设备的外观和硬件框图。
图4表示根据本发明实施例的主机的打印监控模块的功能模块示意图。
图5表示根据本发明实施例的服务器数据库的存储内容示意图。
图6表示根据本发明实施例的主机采集非网络打印设备的设备信息的流程示意图。
图7表示根据本发明实施例的打印设备监控方法对非网络打印设备的接入进行监控的流程示意图。
图8示出根据本发明实施例对非网络打印设备进行主动监控的流程示意图。
图9示出表示本发明实施例的打印监控服务器的构造示意图。
具体实施方式
以下将结合附图及实施例来详细说明本发明的实施方式，借此对本发明如何应用技术手段来解决技术问题，并达成技术效果的实现过程能充分理解并据以实施。需要说明的是，只要不构成冲突，本发明中的各个实施例以及各实施例中的各个特征可以相互结合，所形成的技术方案均在本发明的保护范围之内。
另外，在附图的流程图示出的步骤可以在诸如一组计算机可执行指令的计算机***中执行，并且，虽然在流程图中示出了逻辑顺序，但是在某些情况下，可以以不同于此处的顺序执行所示出或描述的步骤。
本发明的实施例利用接入到网络的主机，对通过该主机接入网络的非网络打印设备进行监控，并通过该主机对非网络打印设备进行监控，由该主机将监控信息传送到打印监控服务器。本发明的实施例能够感知非网络打印设备所连接的主机的变化，确保网络中的打印监控服务器能正确监控非网络打印设备。
如图1所示，打印网络***01处于一个网络W150中，该网络W150可以是公共网，也可以是企业内部的局域网等。打印网络***01包括打印监控服务器100、网络打印设 备(110、111、112)、计算机(或称为主机，120、121、122、123)、路由器(130、131)、非网络打印设备(140、141、142、143)等。这些设备可以通过网络W150互相通信。
打印监控服务器100可以通过网络监控协议(如SNMP协议)监控网络上的打印设备，如图1中的网络打印设备110、111、112，同时还可以通过主机监控非网络打印设备140、141、142、143。
本申请的实施例中，网络打印设备包括直接通过网络接口卡(如NIC，Network Interface Card)连接于网络W150中的打印设备(如网络打印设备110)，还包括通过无线网络接口接入网络W150的打印设备，如网络打印设备112通过无线网络接口方式153(如IEEE制定的第802.11b号标准)与路由器130通信，以路由器130为中继，接入到网络W150中并可以与网络W150中的其他设备互相通信。
本申请的实施例中，非网络打印设备与主机有线或无线直接连接，通过主机接入到网络W150中。主机可以通过USB、串口、并口、WiFi(Wireless Fidelity)直连、蓝牙、Zigbee(无线个域网)、红外等中任一方式与非网络打印设备有线或无线地(点对点地)直接建立连接。这里的主机可以是一般的计算机设备如图1中所示的计算机122，还可以是手机、笔记本、PAD(平板电脑)、PDA(Personal Digital Assistant，个人数字助理)等移动设备，如图1中所示的手机123和笔记本电脑121等。非网络打印设备143可以通过点对点的无线连接方式151(如蓝牙)与手机123通信，手机123通过无线接口方式152(如IEEE制定的第802.11b号标准)以路由器131为中继连接网络W150。
需要说明的是，一台主机可以同时连接多个非网络打印设备，如图1中的主机120同时连接两个非网络打印设备140、141，这样几个设备连接到一起构成了一个小的局域网L180，通过防火墙170连接在网络W150中。另外，网络打印设备也可以通过本地接口与主机相连。
在打印网络***01中，为了可以监控非网络打印设备，把网络W150上的每个本地连接非网络打印设备的主机作为中转桥梁，主机获取非网络打印设备的状态信息，再把获取到的非网络打印设备的状态信息通过网络W150传送到打印监控服务器100。
如图1所示，主机120通过有线线缆160和161(如USB电缆)与非网络打印设备140、141本地连接，主机120通过有线电缆160和161从非网络打印设备140、141中获取非网络打印设备140、141的设备信息，并将所获取的非网络打印设备140、141的设备信息与主机120自身的识别信息一并通过网络W150传送到打印监控服务器100中。
非网络打印设备143通过无线接口151(如蓝牙)与手机123连接，手机123通过无线接口151获取非网络打印设备143的设备信息，并将获取的该设备信息与手机123自身 的识别信息一并通过无线路由器131的中继传送到网络W150中的打印监控服务器100。
网络打印设备110、111、112不需要主机的中转，直接将本身的设备信息通过网络W150发送到打印监控服务器100中。
以主机120为例，图2示出了主机120的外观和硬件框图。
如图2所示，主机120包括CPU(Central Processing Unit，中央处理器)201、ROM(Read Only Memory，只读存储器)202、RAM(Random Access Memory，随机存取存储器)203、HDD(Hard Disk Drive，硬盘驱动器)204、CD-ROM(Compact Disc Read-Only Memory，只读光盘驱动)驱动206、输入接口(I/F)207、视频接口(I/F)208、本地接口209、有线网络接口205和无线LAN适配器210(也可叫无线LAN卡)。
其中，CPU 201主要控制主机120的各种功能。ROM 202主要存储各种程序，诸如CPU 201在启动处理中执行的BIOS(Basic Input/Output System，基本输入/输出***)。RAM 203主要被CPU 201作为工作存储器使用。HDD 204主要存储了包括操作***的文件的各种文件。CD-ROM驱动206主要用于从CD(Compact Disc，光盘)读取数据。输入接口(I/F)207主要被配置成将来自主机120上的键盘或鼠标(未示出)的输入信号输入到CPU 201。视频接口(I/F)208主要被配置成在CPU 201的控制下将信息显示在主机120的显示器上。有线网络接口205诸如Ethernet(注册商标)主要被配置成通过有线电缆连接接入点或者路由器，使主机120连接在网络W150中。无线LAN适配器210主要被配置成按照无线通信标准(如IEEE802.11)来通过无线连接将主机120与外部设备相连。主机120通过本地接口209连接***设备，如非网络打印设备。这些部件经由总线互相连接。
图3示出了打印设备的外观和硬件框图。
如图3所示，打印设备主要包括控制单元301、存储单元302、缓存单元303、引擎控制单元304、设置单元305以及接口单元306等。
其中，控制单元301(如CPU)主要控制打印设备的各种操作。存储单元302(如ROM)主要存储各种操作程序，诸如控制单元301在启动打印时的处理程序。缓存单元303(如RAM、Flash)主要被控制单元301作为工作存储器使用。引擎控制单元304主要被配置成控制打印设备的打印操作，如控制转印、定影等。设置单元305主要接收用户输入的指令。接口单元306用于与主机进行连接，可以包括本地接口、有线网络接口和无线LAN适配器。本地接口如上述的USB接口、串口等，有线网络接口诸如Ethernet(注册商标)被配置成通过有线电缆连接接入点或者路由器，使打印设备连接在网络W150中。无线LAN适配器主要被配置成按照无线通信标准(如IEEE802.11)来通过无 线连接将打印设备与外部设备通信。这些部件经由总线互相连接。
非网络打印设备的接口单元306一般只有本地接口。
本发明的实施例中的网络打印设备的接口单元306，除了包括本地接口外，还可包括网络接口和无线LAN适配器其中之一或者两者。用户可以选择通过本地接口或无线LAN适配器将网络打印设备当作本地设备连接到主机进行使用，也可以选择通过网络接口或者无线LAN适配器将网络打印设备连接到网络进行使用。
此外，本实施例的打印设备并不限于此，还可以为其他的图像处理设备，如扫描仪、复印机、传真机、或者集打印、复印、扫描、传真一身的多功能一体机(MFP)等。
如图4所示，为了实现对非网络打印设备进行网络监控，本发明的实施例中，连接非网络打印设备的主机120中设置有打印监控模块400。
本发明的实施例中，打印监控模块400可包含如下的单元：服务器网络通讯单元401、打印驱动单元402、打印设备通讯控制单元403、命令解析单元404、局域网监控单元405、主机数据库406以及删除单元407等。
服务器网络通讯单元401主要用于实现命令解析单元404和打印监控服务器100之间的通讯。二者之间所使用的通讯协议和打印监控服务器100对整个网络W150上的网络打印设备所采用的监控协议相一致，例如可以是SNMP协议，还可以是HTTP(Hyper Text Transport Protocol，超文本传输协议)协议、TCP/IP(Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol，传输控制/网络通讯协定)协议、FTP(File Transfer Protocol，文件传输协议)协议或者SMTP(Simple Message Transfer Protocol，简单邮件传输协议)协议等。
打印驱动单元402与打印设备通讯控制单元403相连，类似于打印设备的一般驱动程序，用于生成非网络打印设备能够处理的打印数据，并把这些打印数据发送到非网络打印设备。在本发明的其他实施例中，打印驱动单元402也可以单独分离出打印监控模块400而存在。
打印设备通讯控制单元403与局域网监控单元405相连，主要用于实现局域网监控单元405与非网络打印设备之间的通讯。常用的通讯方式为USB、串口、并口等有线接口方式或蓝牙、wifi直连等无线接口方式。
命令解析单元404，与服务器网络通讯单元401相连，主要用于接收通过该服务器网络通讯单元401转发的来自于打印监控服务器100的执行指令(比如各种命令或查询)，将该执行指令封装转换成非网络打印设备能够识别的命令并通过局域网监控单元405和打印设备通讯控制单元403发送到到非网络打印设备，接收非网络打印设备通过该打印设备通讯控制单元403和局域网监控单元405等返回的对该命令的响应，并将该响应封装 成网络W150上采用的通讯协议的格式，发送到打印监控服务器100。
局域网监控单元405，与打印设备通讯控制单元403及命令解析单元404相连，用于监控非网络打印设备在主机上的端口，还管理这个主机上连接的非网络打印设备的端口，监控IP地址等变化。该局域网监控单元405将命令解析单元404发送给非网络打印设备的命令转发给打印设备通讯控制单元403，由该打印设备通讯控制单元403将该命令发送给非网络打印设备；接收非网络打印设备针对该命令的响应，将该响应发送给命令解析单元404。
局域网监控单元405还与主机数据库406相连，可以通过打印设备通讯控制单元403向非网络打印设备发送状态请求命令，并接收非网络打印设备根据该状态请求命令返回的状态信息，同时生成当前主机的识别信息(如主机名、IP地址等)，把非网络打印设备的状态信息结合非网络打印设备的识别信息构成设备信息的一部分存储在主机数据库406中，并通过服务器网络通讯单元401把主机数据库406存储的非网络打印设备的设备信息和当前主机的识别信息发到打印监控服务器100。
局域网监控单元405根据打印设备通讯控制单元403发送处理后的命令或查询到非网络打印设备。同时非网络打印设备返回的结果会通过命令解析单元404包装成网络W150上采用的通讯协议的格式发送到打印监控服务器100。
主机数据库406用于存储当前主机连接的非网络打印设备的设备信息，如局域网L180中，主机120的主机数据库406存储非网络打印设备140、141的设备信息，该信息可以包括非网络打印设备的厂家和产品信息，非网络打印设备的序列号，非网络打印设备的状态信息，表示非网络打印设备是否在线的非网络打印设备的在线标记(即非网络打印设备连接主机并开通电源处于能够被使用的状态)。主机数据库406还会存储主机120的识别信息，如非网络打印设备104、141在主机102上的各自端口号、主机名以及主机地址等。需要将这些设备信息、主机的识别信息和打印监控服务器100上连接的(或安装的)用于存储打印设备数据的服务器数据库500中存储的非网络打印设备的对应关系数据保持一致。
删除单元407，与服务器网络通讯单元401及主机数据库406相连，设置为接收来自该打印监控服务器的删除指令，并根据该删除指令删除主机数据库406中存储的先前曾经接入过的非网络打印设备的识别信息。该打印监控服务器在该主机先前曾经连接过的非网络打印设备通过另一主机与该打印监控服务器进行交互时，发送该删除指令。
在本申请的实施例中，打印监控模块400也可以不包括打印驱动单元402。打印驱动单元402可以被构造成一个构成打印设备的打印驱动的组成部分，该打印驱动可以生成 打印数据同时还可以监控打印设备。另外，命令解析单元404、局域网监控单元405、删除单元407可以集成为一个单元，该单元可以执行命令解析单元404、局域网监控单元405、删除单元407这三个单元各自的功能。
如图5中所示，打印监控服务器100可以是一般的计算机，例如工作站、个人计算机或者服务器。打印监控服务器100上设置有管理模块(图5中未示出)，连接一个用于存储打印设备数据的服务器数据库500。打印设备数据可包括打印作业记录、表示非网络打印设备与该非网络打印设备所连接的主机之间对应关系的对应关系数据、联网标记501等。
对应关系数据表示的是非网络打印设备的设备信息和该非网络打印设备所连接的主机的识别信息的对应关系。非网络打印设备的设备信息主要包括打印设备名称502、打印设备厂家和产品信息503以及打印设备状态信息504等中的至少一种信息。主机的识别信息主要包括主机名505、主机IP地址506、主机上的通讯端口信息507以及主机其他信息508等中的至少一种信息。
其中，打印设备名称502可为打印设备的设备序列号。联网标记501用于标识打印设备是联网打印设备还是非网络打印设备。打印设备厂家和产品信息503与主机数据库406中存储的一致，打印设备名称502和打印设备厂家和产品信息503是用于识别打印设备的识别信息。其中打印设备厂家和产品信息503包括打印品牌的名称、产品的型号，还有打印设备在主机上的端口信息(例如，非网络打印设备的USB接口的PID(product ID，产品识别码)、VID(vendor ID，供应商识别码))。主机名505、主机IP地址506、主机上的通讯端口信息507、主机其他信息508可以统称为主机的识别信息，用于标识当前非网络打印设备所连接的主机。打印设备状态信息504表示标识打印设备的状态信息如打印印刷页数、碳粉/墨水剩余量、卡纸情况等信息。
打印监控服务器100上设置的管理模块将通过主机上的打印监控模块400获取的非网络打印设备的设备信息存储在服务器数据库500中。比较常见的打印监控服务器的管理模块如MPS，对被监控的设备进行必要的调整和整体优化部署，并全面接管被监控设备的运营、耗材更换、维修保养等工作。
针对非网络打印设备，在服务器数据库500中存储表示非网络打印设备与主机对应关系的对应关系数据，具体地可以包括有非网络打印设备的设备信息(例如，包括打印设备名称502、打印设备厂家和产品信息503、打印设备状态信息504)、对应主机的识别信息(例如主机名505、主机IP地址506、主机上的通讯端口信息507、主机其他信息508)；主机其他信息508可以为主机所在的物理位置信息等。
此外，在服务器数据库500中还可存储网络打印设备的设备信息。网络打印设备的设备信息可包括打印设备名称502、联网标记501、打印设备厂家和产品信息503、打印设备状态信息504，其中联网标记501表示该打印设备为网络打印设备。
服务器数据库500也可以分成两个存储区域，一个存储区域存储非网络打印设备的设备信息，另一个存储区域存储网络打印设备的设备信息，具体所存储的内容请参考以上述描述。当从网络中获取到打印设备的设备信息时，从设备信息中获取联网标记501，依据该标识来区分网络打印设备和非网络打印设备，便于把获取的打印设备的设备信息存储在两区域之一中。
图6示意性地阐述接入在网络W150中的主机120是如何获取并更新非网络打印设备(140、141)的设备信息的。如图6所示，这一过程主要包括如下步骤。
步骤S601，在主机120上安装打印监控模块400。
步骤S602，主机120利用所安装的打印监控模块400监测是否有非网络打印设备(以非网络打印设备140为例进行说明)接入。
具体可为，通过打印监控模块400中的局域网监控单元405监测有没有非网络打印设备的接入。当监测到有非网络打印设备连接主机120时，进入步骤S603。
步骤S603，主机120获取监测到的非网络打印设备140的识别信息。
具体可为，当局域网监控单元405监测到有非网络打印设备140接入时，通过打印设备通讯控制单元403与非网络打印设备140进行通讯，获取非网络打印设备140的识别信息，如打印设备的设备序列号、打印设备厂家和产品信息等，将这些信息发送到局域网监控单元405进行分析，然后进入步骤S604。
步骤S604，主机120判断本地(在例如主机数据库406或文本文件等中)是否保存有该非网络打印设备140的识别信息。
具体可为，通过局域网监控单元405在主机数据库406数据库中查找是否存在获取识别信息中的设备序列号、打印设备厂家和产品信息等中的一项或多项信息，来判断之前是否保存有与所获取的该非网络打印设备140的识别信息相一致的非网络打印设备的识别信息。
如果判断结果为本地没有上述识别信息，则表示接入的非网络打印设备140为首次接入(新接入)的打印设备，进入步骤S605；否则表示该非网络打印设备140之前曾经接入过该主机，进入步骤S606。
步骤S605，主机120获取该新接入的非网络打印设备140的设备信息，然后转步骤S608。该非网络打印设备140的设备信息，可以是由主机120向该非网络打印设备140 发送设备信息请求后，由该非网络打印设备140对该设备信息请求进行响应以提供给主机120，也可以是该非网络打印设备140接入该主机120时，主动发送给该主机120。
具体可为，局域网监控单元405对新接入的非网络打印设备140进行监控，通过打印设备通讯控制单元403发送请求命令，以请求获取非网络打印设备140的设备信息，如打印机名称、打印设备厂家和产品信息、打印设备状态信息等。主机120通过监测是否有非网络打印设备接入且根据监测结果来获取与该新接入的非网络打印设备的设备信息，可以在接收到来自打印监控服务器100的查询请求时，大大缩短响应时间，从而尽量弥补非网络打印设备无法与打印监控服务器100直接连接而带来的时延问题。
步骤S606，获取非网络打印设备140当前的状态信息。
由于非网络打印设备140之前曾经接入到该主机120，主机数据库406已经存储了接入的非网络打印设备140的设备信息，因此，可通过检测该非网络打印设备140的状态信息是否发生了改变来判断是否需要更新主机数据库406。
具体可为，局域网监控单元405通过打印设备通讯控制单元403向接入的非网络打印设备140发送状态请求命令，非网络打印设备140依据该命令返回当前的状态信息，如碳粉/墨水剩余量，打印印刷页数、是否存在错误等情况，局域网监控单元405依据打印设备通讯控制单元403接收返回的结果，进入步骤S607。
步骤S607，比较所获取的该非网络打印设备140的状态信息是否与之前在主机数据库406中保存的该非网络打印设备140的状态信息相一致，以判断是否需要更新主机数据库406。这里是依据获取的非网络打印设备140的状态信息与主机数据库406中的该非网络打印设备140的状态信息进行比较。
具体可为，局域网监控单元405依据获取的状态信息与主机数据库406中的该非网络打印设备140的状态信息进行比较，如果不存在差异表示不需要更新主机数据库406，则结束；如果存在差异表示需要更新主机数据库406，进入步骤S608。
步骤S606、S607中也可以依据连接的打印设备是否有状态改变来判断是否更新主机数据库406。
具体可为，在步骤S606中，局域网监控单元405通过打印设备通讯控制单元403向接入的该非网络打印设备140发送状态请求命令，该非网络打印设备140接收到状态请求命令后依据自身是否有状态改变返回相应的信息。如果打印设备有状态改变，则返回改变的状态信息，例如卡纸信息有更新，只返回卡纸信息，如果有碳粉剩余量改变，则返回碳粉剩余量的信息。需要说明的是，对于曾经接入过该主机的非网络打印设备，此处可以只返回本次接入相比于最近的一次接入已经发生改变的状态信息，而不必返回全部 的状态信息。如果没有任何状态改变，则返回没有状态改变的信息。
步骤S607的判断结果为是，则进入步骤S608，主机120获取接入的非网络打印设备140的状态信息，更新主机数据库406，向打印监控服务器100发送所获取的非网络打印设备140的设备信息，反之则结束。打印监控服务器100将基于从主机120接收到的非网络打印设备140的设备信息中的状态信息来更新打印监控服务器500存储的打印设备数据中的非网络打印设备140的状态信息。
步骤S608，主机将步骤S605获取的设备信息记录至主机数据库406以对主机数据库406进行更新，或者根据步骤S607更新主机数据库406中已经改变的非网络打印设备的状态信息。具体可为，局域网监控单元405对获取到新接入的非网络打印设备140的设备信息结合主机120的识别信息存储在主机数据库406中，并更新主机数据库406的设备信息。对于不是新接入的非网络打印设备，则把改变的状态信息更新到主机数据库406中。
经过如图6所示的上述处理，主机120就可以将非网络打印设备140的设备信息及主机的识别信息一并发送给打印监控服务器100。
图7示出根据本发明实施例的打印设备监控方法对非网络打印设备的接入进行监控的流程示意图。下面结合图7描述打印监控服务器100对非网络打印设备的接入进行监控的处理流程。
步骤S701，接入在网络W150中的打印监控服务器100接收从接入在网络W150中的主机120发来的非网络打印设备(以非网络打印设备140为例进行说明)的设备信息及主机120的识别信息。其中，该非网络打印设备140连接在该主机120上，通过该主机120接入网络W150。非网络打印设备140的设备信息，主要包含有非网络打印设备140的识别信息以及状态信息。
步骤S702，打印监控服务器100基于其已保存在服务器数据库500中存储的打印设备数据和从所述主机120接收到的非网络打印设备140的设备信息来判断打印设备数据中是否包括该非网络打印设备140的识别信息，本实施例中，打印设备数据保存在服务器数据库500。
具体的，在打印监控服务器100中查找是否存在非网络打印设备140的设备信息中的非网络打印设备140的识别信息一致的识别信息，若存在，则判断结果为包括，否则，判断结果为不包括。若判断结果为包括，则进入步骤703，否则，进入步骤S708。
步骤S703，打印控制服务器100将服务器数据库500存储的打印设备数据中与该非网络打印设备140对应的主机识别信息确定为之前曾经接入过的主机(以下称先前主机) 的识别信息，并判断先前主机的识别信息与所接收到的该主机120的识别信息是否一致。若判断为一致，则进入步骤S706，反之若判断为不一致，则进入步骤S704。
步骤S704，若先前主机的识别信息与所接收到的主机120的识别信息不一致，则打印监控服务器100向先前主机发送用于指示删除该非网络打印设备140的设备信息的删除指令。
步骤S705，基于所接收到的该非网络打印设备140的设备信息及主机120自身的识别信息，在打印设备数据中更新表示该非网络打印设备140与主机120之间的对应关系的对应关系数据。
在这个实施例中，更新该对应关系数据可具体为，将非网络打印设备140对应的主机的识别信息更新为该主机120的识别信息。对应关系数据格式可参考图5。
在步骤S703判断为不一致的情况下，步骤S704和S705的执行顺序不限。
若先前主机的识别信息与所接收到的主机120的识别信息不一致，则表示该非网络打印设备140曾经连接过其他主机(亦称先前主机)，并且是从先前主机断开连接，移动接入到当前的主机120。在这种情况下，打印监控服务器100向先前主机发送用于指示删除该非网络打印设备140的设备信息的删除指令。
这样，先前主机不再保存非网络打印设备140的设备信息，且打印监控服务器100也更新了非网络打印设备140的对应主机的信息，因而很好地避免了现有技术中非网络打印设备140的设备信息存储混乱、甚至无法正确监控这些已经改变连接主机的非网络打印设备的技术问题。
这样一来，打印监控服务器100可以随时跟踪非网络打印设备的主机改变情况。对于主机而言，每一次有新接入的非网络打印设备，都可以及时通知到打印监控服务器100。
如果当前接入的非网络打印设备正接入与之前不同的新主机，则根据本实施例，新主机会主动把该变化的情况反馈到打印监控服务器100，打印监控服务器100会向先前主机通知该非网络打印设备已经移动并接入到别的主机，从而可以很好地解决无法正确监控这些已经移动后改变连接主机的非网络打印设备的技术问题。
具体地，可由打印监控服务器100的管理模块向先前主机中的服务器网络通讯单元401发送删除指令，先前主机的局域网监控单元405依据删除指令删除其主机数据库406中保存的非网络打印设备140的设备信息。
在步骤S706中，判断为先前在服务器数据库500中存储的主机的识别信息与所接收到的该主机120的识别信息相一致，表明当前接入的非网络打印设备140已经注册在打印 监控服务器100中，因此在该步骤706中进一步判断接收到的非网络打印设备140的设备信息与打印监控服务器100已保存的非网络打印设备140的设备信息是否一致。具体可为，管理模块比较接收到的设备信息与已经存储在服务器数据库500中的相应的设备信息是否一致，如果不一致则进入步骤S707；如果一致，则表示此次接收到的非网络打印设备140的设备信息没有改变，与已经存储在服务器数据500中的设备信息一样，因此省略更新，结束。
步骤S707，基于接收到的非网络打印设备140的设备信息来更新打印监控服务器100的打印设备数据中的非网络打印设备140的设备信息。
步骤S708中，由于判断为打印设备数据中不包括该非网络打印设备140的识别信息，因此，在该步骤中，打印监控服务器100依据所接收到的该非网络打印设备140的设备信息及所述主机120的识别信息来在打印设备数据(本实施例中通过服务器数据库500实现)添加表示该非网络打印设备140与主机120之间的对应关系的对应关系数据。
图8示出根据本发明实施例对非网络打印设备进行主动监控的流程示意图。
为了更好地监控各个非网络打印设备，打印监控服务器100定期或不定期基于服务器数据库500(打印设备数据)中保存的非网络打印设备的识别信息及其相应的主机识别信息向各个主机发送用于查询非网络打印设备的状态信息的查询请求，具体在步骤S801和S802中进行说明。
打印监控服务器100通过解析主机针对该查询请求发来的响应消息，可以确保打印监控服务器100保存的打印设备数据能够更加及时准确地体现各个非网络打印设备的连接状态和使用情况，从而尽最大限度地如监控接入网络的网络打印设备那样监控非网络打印设备。
步骤S801，打印监控服务器100定期或不定期获取打印设备数据中保存的各非网络打印设备所连接的主机信息。
具体可为，当打印监控服务器100要获取非网络打印设备的状态信息时，其管理模块从与打印监控服务器100连接或安装于打印监控服务器100中的服务器数据库500中获取各个非网络打印设备所连接主机的信息，如获取主机名505、主机IP地址506等信息，进入步骤S802。
步骤S802，在每次获取打印设备数据中保存的各非网络打印设备的主机信息后，打印监控服务器100向获取的各个主机信息分别对应的各个主机发送用于查询非网络打印设备的状态信息的查询请求。
具体可为，打印监控服务器100的管理模块依据获取的主机信息(如IP地址)，通 过网络W150向该主机的服务器网络通讯单元401发送查询请求。主要是通过SNMP协议发送查询请求，该查询请求中可包含需要被监控的非网络打印设备的识别信息，如打印设备序列号、打印设备厂家和/或产品信息等。
然后，收到该查询请求的主机分别判断其是否与其所接收到的该查询请求中的非网络打印设备连接，若判断为否，则主机向打印监控服务器100发送关于未连接所接收到的查询请求中指定的非网络打印设备的响应，下面通过步骤S803至S809来详细说明。
步骤S803，主机依据打印监控服务器发来的查询请求，判断主机的主机数据库406是否保存有查询请求中指定的要查询的非网络打印设备的信息。
具体是，局域网监控单元405依据接收到的查询请求中的非网络打印设备的识别信息，与主机数据库406中存储的非网络打印设备的识别信息进行匹配，如果匹配成功表示之前曾经接入过与该查询请求中携带的识别信息对应的非网络打印设备，进入步骤S804；如果匹配不成功，则表示当前主机没有连接过对应的非网络打印设备，进入步骤S810。
步骤S804，主机分别根据其保存的非网络打印设备的在线标记来判断其是否与其所接收到的查询请求中的非网络打印设备处于连接状态。
具体是，依据主机数据库406存储的该非网络打印设备的设备信息中的打印设备端口信息和主机端口信息，局域网监控单元405检测当前是否连接该非网络打印设备，如果主机没有连接该非网络打印设备表示被监控的非网络打印设备没有在线，则进入步骤S810；如果主机连接该非网络打印设备，同时该非网络打印设备在电源接通状态，则进入步骤S805。由于预先存储了非网络打印设备的在线标记，可加快主机对打印监控服务器100的响应速度。
步骤S805，主机向该非网络打印设备发送状态请求命令。
具体可为，局域网监控单元405通过打印设备通讯控制单元403对与主机当前连接的该非网络打印设备发送状态请求命令以获取该非网络打印设备当前所处的状态，进入步骤S806。
此外，如果主机连接该非网络打印设备，但是该非网络打印设备电源关闭，可进入步骤S810。
步骤S806，主机在向非网络打印设备发送状态请求命令后，将获取到非网络打印设备返回的状态信息。
具体可为，非网络打印设备依据接收到的状态请求命令，将打印印刷页数、碳粉/墨水剩余量、出错情况等信息作为自身当前的状态信息返回到主机的局域网监控单元 405，进入步骤S807。
步骤S807，主机根据接收到的非网络打印设备返回的状态信息，判定是否需要更新主机数据库。
具体可为，局域网监控单元405分析返回的状态信息与主机数据库406对应非网络打印设备的原先的打印设备状态信息进行比较，如果存在改变，则进入步骤S808。如果不存在改变，则表示主机连接的非网络打印设备当前的状态没有发生任何变化，无需更新主机数据库406和服务器数据库500，结束。
在步骤S806中，非网络打印设备也可以只把发生变化的状态信息返回到主机。当主机接收到表示变化的状态信息时，步骤S807判断为需要更新主机数据库，反之，在步骤S807中的判断结果为否。
步骤S808，主机向打印监控服务器100发送要查询的非网络打印设备的状态信息。
具体地，局域网监控单元405可以把发生变化的非网络打印设备的状态信息通过命令解析单元404转换成打印监控服务器100能够识别的数据，并通过服务器网络通讯单元401反馈转化后的非网络打印设备的状态信息到打印监控服务器100，进入步骤S809。
步骤S809，打印监控服务器100依据接收到的非网络打印设备的状态信息更新服务器数据库500。
具体地，打印监控服务器100的管理模块可以依据接收到的非网络打印设备的状态信息更新服务器数据库500中相应非网络打印设备的状态信息。
例如，如果打印印刷页数改变了就只更新打印印刷页数，如果卡纸信息改变了就只更新卡纸信息。
步骤S810，取消对要查询的非网络打印设备的监控。
具体是，局域网监控单元405通过服务器网络通讯单元401向打印监控服务器100发送关于未连接所接收到的查询请求中指定的非网络打印设备的响应，以指示打印监控服务器取消对该非网络打印设备的监控，监控结束。
在本发明的实施例中，主机中的打印监控模块400的服务器网络通讯单元401接收到查询请求后，将其转发给打印监控模块400中的命令解析单元404。命令解析单元404把打印监控服务器100发来的查询请求转化成非网络打印设备能够识别的数据并发送给局域网监控单元405。局域网监控单元405通过打印设备通讯控制单元403把转化后的查询请求直接发送到非网络打印设备。非网络打印设备返回相应的状态信息，通过局域网监控单元405把返回的状态信息依据网络监控协议发送到打印监控服务器100中。这里是能够把打印监控服务器100下发的查询请求通过转换直接传送到非网络打印设备。
打印监控服务器100依据获取到的状态信息可以通过管理模块的用户界面(UI)显示当前非网络打印设备的型号、连接的主机型号、地址、主机的物理地址以及当前的状态信息，也可以通过浏览器以网页的方式显示非网络打印设备的信息，这样管理员或者维护人员可以及时知道当前非网络打印设备的状态信息。
如果发现非网络打印设备打印频繁且碳粉/墨水剩余量小于预定的数目时，可以在打印监控服务器100上及时下单订购粉盒/墨盒。
另外打印监控服务器100不仅可以监控和管理非网络打印设备的设备信息，同时还可以对非网络打印设备进行设置。主要是通过管理模块的用户界面或者网页从服务器数据库500中获取非网络打印设备的设备信息，并对该非网络打印设备进行参数设置。
例如，设定打印状态信息通知方式，可以设定通知的状态类型、通知的方式如邮件、通知的目的地等；还可以设定打印设备的成像条件，如打印浓淡度、打印色彩、扫描、复印参数、休眠时间等；同时可以设定非网络打印设备的网络监控条件，可以设置监控时间频率，选择需要监控的状态类型。
通过这些设置，打印监控服务器100可以以设定的时间频率对非网络打印设备的主机进行轮询以及时获取非网络打印设备的状态信息。当然，也可以让主机自动依据连接的非网络打印设备有更新时再通知打印监控服务器100。
所设置的这些参数可以通过管理模块向选定的非网络打印设备连接的主机发送设置命令，主机的服务器网络通讯单元401接收到设置命令后，通过命令解析单元404转换成非网络打印设备能够识别的数据，局域网监控单元405把转换后的设置命令通过打印设备通讯控制单元403发送到选定的非网络打印设备，实现通过网络W150远程设定非联网打印设备的目标。
需要说明的是，在主机中设置主机数据库是可选的。在未设置主机数据库的情况下，可在上述步骤S803中不判断主机数据库是否保存有查询请求中指定的要查询的非网络打印设备的信息，而是主机直接检测其是否与要查询的非网络打印设备处于连接状态，若处于连接状态则直接进入步骤S805或直接进入步骤S808，反之，则进入步骤S810。
第二实施例
本实施例与第一实施例的不同点在于，主机的打印监控模块400中的命令解析单元404具体可为一个邮件处理单元。本实施例对非网络打印设备的监控是通过邮件的方式来进行的。
当主机连接新的非网络打印设备时，依据局域网监控单元405获取的设备信息以及 该主机的识别信息通过打印监控模块400中的邮件处理单元封装成邮件格式，通过服务器网络通讯单元401以SMTP(Simple Mail Transfer Protocol，简单电子邮件协议)协议发送到打印监控服务器100的管理模块，对该接入的非网络打印设备进行服务器数据库500注册或者更新对应关系数据。同时，当打印监控服务器100的管理模块监控非网络打印设备时，对该非网络打印设备的主机发送邮件，该邮件中包括查询请求命令，主机的邮件处理单元解析服务器网络通讯单元401接收到的邮件，把查询请求转换成非网络打印设备能够识别的状态请求命令发送到局域网监控单元405，局域网监控单元405把该状态请求命令通过打印设备通讯单元403发送到非网络打印设备，并接收非网络打印设备返回的结果，通过邮件处理单元把返回的结果转成邮件的格式，通过服务器网络通讯单元401发送到打印监控服务器100。
第三实施例
本实施例与第一实施例相同的内容不再赘述。
如图9所示，本发明实施例的打印监控服务器900，可接入在网络W150中，其主要包括接收模块910、确定模块920以及执行模块930。
接收模块910，接收主机发送的非网络打印设备的识别信息及主机的识别信息。非网络打印设备与主机连接，并通过主机接入网络W150中。主机在发送该非网络打印设备的识别信息及主机的识别信息时，可以一并发送非网络打印设备的状态信息。比如，主机可以将非网络打印设备的识别信息和状态信息作为该非网络打印设备的设备信息，与主机的识别信息一起发送给打印监控服务器900。
确定模块920，与接收模块910相连，在打印监控服务器900本地存储的打印设备数据中包括非网络打印设备的识别信息时，说明该非网络打印设备先前通过某一主机已经接入过该网络W150。此时，将打印设备数据中与非网络打印设备对应的主机识别信息确定为先前主机的识别信息，便于该先前主机与当前的主机不一致时，对该非网络打印设备所接入的主机进行更新。
执行模块930，与确定模块920相连，先前主机的识别信息与当前主机的识别信息不一致时，说明非网络打印设备此前通过该先前主机接入过网络W150，此时该非网络打印设备是通过新的主机接入在网络W150中的。此时，根据先前主机的识别信息指示存储有非网络打印设备的识别信息的先前主机删除非网络打印设备的识别信息，这样该非网络打印设备之前通过该先前主机接入网络W150的历史信息就被删除了。而且，根据非网络打印设备的识别信息及主机的识别信息在打印设备数据中将非网络打印设备更新为与主机对应，表明当前该非网络打印设备是通过当前这台主机接入在网络W150中。
如图9所示，本发明实施例的打印监控服务器还可以包括发送模块940，其主要向主机发送查询请求，以获知通过该主机接入网络W150的非网络打印设备的相关信息。接收模块910接收主机发送的从非网络打印设备获取的状态信息或者未连接非网络打印设备的响应。其中，非网络打印设备通过该主机接入网络W150时，主机可以从该非网络打印设备处获取其状态信息；如果非网络打印设备此时已经断开了与主机的连接从而处于离线状态(未接入在网络W150中)，主机无法查询到该非网络打印设备，此时向打印监控服务器发送其未连接非网络打印设备的响应。其中，主机根据查询请求从非网络打印设备获取状态信息。
在本发明的实施例中，接收模块910接收主机发送的非网络打印设备的识别信息及主机的识别信息时，还一并接收主机发送的非网络打印设备的状态信息；其中，主机监测到非网络打印设备接入时，获取非网络打印设备的识别信息；主机在本地未保存非网络打印设备的识别信息时，获取非网络打印设备的状态信息。
本发明的实施例中，接收模块910接收主机获取的非网络打印设备的状态信息；执行模块930根据主机获取的非网络打印设备的状态信息更新打印设备数据中的非网络打印设备的状态信息；其中，主机在本地保存有非网络打印设备的识别信息时，根据本地保存的非网络打印设备的识别信息获取非网络打印设备的状态信息；在本地保存的非网络打印设备的状态信息与获取的非网络打印设备的状态信息不一致时，主机将获取的非网络打印设备的状态信息发送给打印监控服务器。
本发明的实施例中，执行模块930在本地存储的打印设备数据中不包括非网络打印设备的识别信息时，根据非网络打印设备的识别信息及主机的识别信息在打印设备数据中添加非网络打印设备与主机之间的对应关系。
本发明的实施例中，接收模块910接收主机通过电子邮件发送的非网络打印设备的识别信息及主机的识别信息。
本文中的非网络打印设备，指不直接连接网络的打印设备，但它可以通过电脑、智能手机等间接连接网络。
本实施例中，当有非网络打印设备连接到一个主机时，通过主机的打印监控模块400判定是否为新的接入设备。如果为新的接入设备，则获取该非网络设备的识别信息并保存在主机数据库406中，同时向打印监控服务器900发送该新接入的非网络打印设备的识别信息以及该主机的识别信息，并在打印监控服务器900的数据库500中建立该新接入的非网络打印设备与该主机的对应关系数据。如果新接入的非网络打印设备已经在打印设备数据中有相应的对应关系数据，则判定是否需要更新该对应关系数据中的主机的 识别信息。如果判定需要更新，表示该新接入的非网络设备从一个原先主机转移接入到当前的主机。如果接入的非网络打印设备不是新接入的打印设备(比如一直连接，只是断开再重新上电)，则主机不向打印监控服务器900发送该接入的非网络打印设备的识别信息以及主机的识别信息，而是获取该接入的非网络打印设备的状态信息，如果存在状态信息改变，则反馈到打印监控服务器900以使对打印设备数据中的该接入的非网络打印设备的设备信息进行更新。综上描述，当有非网络打印设备接入主机时，主机依据自身的主机数据库406中存储的设备信息判定该接入的非网络打印设备是否为新的接入设备，如果为新的接入设备，则自动反馈到打印监控服务器900以使在打印设备数据中建立或者更新新的接入设备与主机的对应关系数据，如果不是，主机只是反馈接入的非网络打印设备的状态信息到打印监控服务器900。在网络W150中，主机每一次有非网络打印设备连接时，经过上述的描述，打印监控服务器900能够准确把握每个非网络打印设备连接的主机以及主机的变化信息，之后再通过如图8所示的控制流程，去准确实时监控每一个非网络打印设备。
在网络W150中，非网络打印设备可以被每个主机共享使用，例如，如果主机122上的用户想使用非网络打印设备140，则会通过打印监控服务器900获取到非网络打印设备140的状态，进行打印选择。具体为在主机122上通过打印监控模块400向打印监控服务器900请求该非网络打印设备140的状态信息，打印监控服务器900依据该请求向主机120发送状态请求命令，主机120响应该命令并返回相应的状态信息，打印监控服务器900把主机120返回的状态信息反馈到主机122的打印监控模块400，用户可以得知非网络打印设140备的状态，如是否在线、能否打印等状态。这样方便了用户可以随时知道其他主机上的非网络打印设备的状态，以便选择可以使用的打印设备。
另外，用户可通过主机122的打印监控模块400获取到网络W150中的每个非网络打印设备的状态信息，具体可以通过主机122的打印监控模块400向打印监控服务器900请求打印设备数据中每一个非网络打印设备的状态信息，并在打印监控模块400的界面上显示每一个非网络打印设备的状态列表，用户可以选择其中一个可以使用的非网络打印设备进行打印设定。或者主机122的打印监控模块400可以通过打印监控服务器900的中继，向其他主机的打印监控模块400发送非网络打印设备的状态请求，获取到网络W150中每个主机连接的非网络打印设备的实时状态。另外，在网络W150中，可以网络通信的主机们可以通过自身的打印监控模块400互相获取到对方连接的非网络打印设备的状态信息，例如，主机122的打印监控模块400可以向主机120的打印监控模块400发送状态请求，主机120的打印监控模块400依据该状态请求返回自身主机数据库406 中的非网络打印设备的状态信息。
本申请实施例的可通过主机接入网络W150的非网络打印设备，主要包括发送模块和接收模块。其中，该发送模块，设置为在该非网络打印设备接入该主机时，如果该主机之前未保存有该非网络打印设备的识别信息则向该主机发送该非网络打印设备的识别信息，并根据状态请求命令向该主机发送该非网络打印设备当前的状态信息。该接收模块，设置为在该非网络打印设备接入该主机时，如果该主机之前保存有该非网络打印设备的识别信息则接收该主机所发送的该状态请求命令。
该发送模块可以根据该状态请求命令向该主机发送与之前的最近一次接入该主机相比已经发生改变的状态信息。
本申请的实施例还提供了一种打印设备监控***，包括前述的非网络打印设备、可将前述的非网络打印设备接入网络W150的主机以及如上所述的打印监控服务器。其中，主机通过网络W150与打印监控服务器的接收模块相连。
对于打印设备监控***，还请参考本申请前述的各实施例，此处不再赘述。
虽然本发明所揭露的实施方式如上，但所述的内容只是为了便于理解本发明而采用的实施方式，并非用以限定本发明。任何本发明所属技术领域内的技术人员，在不脱离本发明所揭露的精神和范围的前提下，可以在实施的形式上及细节上作任何的修改与变化，但本发明的专利保护范围，仍须以所附的权利要求书所界定的范围为准。

Claims (21)

  1. 一种打印设备监控方法，接入网络的打印监控服务器执行如下步骤：
    接收主机发送的非网络打印设备的识别信息及所述主机的识别信息；所述非网络打印设备与所述主机连接并通过所述主机接入所述网络；
    本地存储的打印设备数据中包括所述非网络打印设备的识别信息时，将所述打印设备数据中与所述非网络打印设备对应的主机识别信息确定为先前主机的识别信息；
    所述先前主机的识别信息与所述主机的识别信息不一致时，根据所述先前主机的识别信息指示存储有所述非网络打印设备的识别信息的所述先前主机删除所述非网络打印设备的识别信息，根据所述非网络打印设备的识别信息及所述主机的识别信息在所述打印设备数据中将所述非网络打印设备更新为与所述主机对应。
  2. 根据权利要求1所述的打印设备监控方法，其中，所述方法还包括：
    所述打印监控服务器向所述主机发送查询请求，并接收所述主机发送的从所述非网络打印设备获取的状态信息或者未连接所述非网络打印设备的响应；
    其中，所述主机根据所述查询请求从所述非网络打印设备获取所述状态信息。
  3. 根据权利要求1所述的打印设备监控方法，其中：
    所述打印监控服务器接收所述主机发送的所述非网络打印设备的识别信息及所述主机的识别信息时，还一并接收所述主机发送的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息；
    其中，所述主机监测到所述非网络打印设备接入时，获取所述非网络打印设备的识别信息；所述主机在本地未保存所述非网络打印设备的识别信息时，获取所述非网络打印设备的状态信息。
  4. 根据权利要求3所述的打印设备监控方法，其中：
    所述打印监控服务器接收所述主机获取的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息，并根据所述主机获取的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息更新所述打印设备数据中的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息；
    其中，所述主机在本地保存有所述非网络打印设备的识别信息时，根据本地保存的所述非网络打印设备的识别信息获取所述非网络打印设备的状态信息；在本地保存的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息与所述获取的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息不一致时，所述主机将所述获取的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息发送给所述打印监控服务器。
  5. 根据权利要求1至4中任一项所述的打印设备监控方法，其中，该方法还包括：
    本地存储的所述打印设备数据中不包括所述非网络打印设备的识别信息时，所述打印监控服务器根据所述非网络打印设备的识别信息及所述主机的识别信息在所述打印设 备数据中添加所述非网络打印设备与所述主机之间的对应关系。
  6. 根据权利要求1至4中任一项所述的打印设备监控方法，其中：
    所述打印监控服务器接收所述主机通过电子邮件发送的所述非网络打印设备的识别信息及所述主机的识别信息。
  7. 一种打印监控服务器，所述打印监控服务器可接入在网络中，其中，该打印监控服务器包括：
    接收模块，接收主机发送的非网络打印设备的识别信息及所述主机的识别信息；所述非网络打印设备与所述主机连接并通过所述主机接入所述网络；
    确定模块，本地存储的打印设备数据中包括所述非网络打印设备的识别信息时，将所述打印设备数据中与所述非网络打印设备对应的主机识别信息确定为先前主机的识别信息；
    执行模块，所述先前主机的识别信息与所述主机的识别信息不一致时，根据所述先前主机的识别信息指示存储有所述非网络打印设备的识别信息的所述先前主机删除所述非网络打印设备的识别信息，根据所述非网络打印设备的识别信息及所述主机的识别信息在所述打印设备数据中将所述非网络打印设备更新为与所述主机对应。
  8. 根据权利要求7所述的打印监控服务器，其中，所述打印监控服务器还包括：
    发送模块，向所述主机发送查询请求；
    所述接收模块接收所述主机发送的从所述非网络打印设备获取的状态信息或者未连接所述非网络打印设备的响应；
    其中，所述主机根据所述查询请求从所述非网络打印设备获取所述状态信息。
  9. 根据权利要求7所述的打印监控服务器，其中：
    所述接收模块接收所述主机发送的所述非网络打印设备的识别信息及所述主机的识别信息时，还一并接收所述主机发送的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息；
    其中，所述主机监测到所述非网络打印设备接入时，获取所述非网络打印设备的识别信息；所述主机在本地未保存所述非网络打印设备的识别信息时，获取所述非网络打印设备的状态信息。
  10. 根据权利要求9所述的打印监控服务器，其中：
    所述接收模块接收所述主机获取的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息；
    所述执行模块根据所述主机获取的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息更新所述打印设备数据中的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息；
    其中，所述主机在本地保存有所述非网络打印设备的识别信息时，根据本地保存的 所述非网络打印设备的识别信息获取所述非网络打印设备的状态信息；在本地保存的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息与所述获取的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息不一致时，所述主机将所述获取的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息发送给所述打印监控服务器。
  11. 根据权利要求7至10中任一项所述的打印监控服务器，其中：
    所述执行模块在本地存储的所述打印设备数据中不包括所述非网络打印设备的识别信息时，根据所述非网络打印设备的识别信息及所述主机的识别信息在所述打印设备数据中添加所述非网络打印设备与所述主机之间的对应关系。
  12. 根据权利要求7至10中任一项所述的打印监控服务器，其中：
    所述接收模块接收所述主机通过电子邮件发送的所述非网络打印设备的识别信息及所述主机的识别信息。
  13. 一种主机，可以接入在网络中，该主机包括服务器网络通讯单元、打印设备通讯控制单元、命令解析单元、局域网监控单元以及删除单元，其中：
    所述服务器网络通讯单元，设置为实现所述命令解析单元与所述网络中的打印监控服务器之间的通讯；
    所述打印设备通讯控制单元，设置为实现所述局域网监控单元与所述主机所连接的非网络打印设备之间的通讯；
    所述命令解析单元，设置为将来自所述打印监控服务器的执行指令封装转换成该非网络打印设备能够识别的命令并转发给所述局域网监控单元，接收来自该非网络打印设备对该命令的响应并将该响应封装后发送给所述打印监控服务器；
    所述局域网监控单元，设置为将该命令发送给该非网络打印设备，并将该响应发送给所述命令解析单元；
    所述删除单元，设置为接收来自所述打印监控服务器的删除指令，并根据该删除指令删除本地存储的先前曾经接入过的非网络打印设备的设备信息；所述打印监控服务器在该主机先前曾经连接过的非网络打印设备通过另一主机与所述打印监控服务器进行交互时发送所述删除指令。
  14. 根据权利要求13所述的主机，其中：
    所述命令解析单元为邮件处理单元。
  15. 根据权利要求13所述的主机，其中：
    该局域网监控单元设置为通过该打印设备通讯控制单元监控所述非网络打印设备的状态，将所述非网络打印设备的状态信息通过所述服务器网络通讯单元发送给所述打印监控服务器。
  16. 根据权利要求15所述的主机，其中：
    所述局域网监控单元检测到所述非网络打印设备接入时，获取所述非网络打印设备的识别信息，在本地保存有所述非网络打印设备的识别信息时，根据本地保存的所述非网络打印设备的识别信息获取所述非网络打印设备的状态信息；在本地保存的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息与所述获取的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息不一致时，将所述获取的所述非网络打印设备的状态信息发送给所述打印监控服务器。
  17. 根据权利要求16所述的主机，其中：
    所述局域网监控单元在本地未保存所述非网络打印设备的识别信息时，获取所述非网络打印设备的状态信息，并将该非网络打印设备的设备信息和该主机的识别信息发送给该打印监控服务器；其中该设备信息包括该状态信息及该非网络打印设备的识别信息。
  18. 根据权利要求13至17中任一项权利要求所述的主机，其中：
    当从所述服务器网络通讯单元接到查询请求时，所述局域网监控单元向该非网络打印设备发送状态请求命令，并通过该打印设备通讯控制单元接收该非网络打印设备根据该状态请求命令返回的状态信息发送给该打印监控服务器。
  19. 一种非网络打印设备，可通过主机接入网络，其中，该设备包括：
    发送模块，在该非网络打印设备接入该主机时，如果该主机之前未保存有该非网络打印设备的识别信息时则向该主机发送该非网络打印设备的识别信息，并根据状态请求命令向该主机发送该非网络打印设备当前的状态信息；
    接收模块，在该非网络打印设备接入该主机时，如果该主机之前保存有该非网络打印设备的识别信息则接收该主机所发送的该状态请求命令。
  20. 根据权利要求19所述的非网络打印设备，其中：
    该发送模块根据该状态请求命令向该主机发送与之前的最近一次接入该主机相比已经发生改变的状态信息。
  21. 一种打印设备监控***，其中，该***包括：
    如权利要求19或20所述的非网络打印设备；
    可将如权利要求19或20所述的非网络打印设备接入网络中的如权利要求13至18中任一项权利要求所述的主机；以及
    如权利要求7至12中任一项权利要求所述的打印监控服务器；
    其中，所述主机通过所述网络与所述打印监控服务器的接收模块相连。
PCT/CN2015/087992 2014-09-01 2015-08-25 打印设备监控方法和***以及打印监控服务器 WO2016034054A1 (zh)

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