Abstract: Example systems and related methods may provide replenishment services for a plurality of printing devices. An example method includes receiving, at a replenishment server, information indicative of at least one aspect of a printing device. The printing device includes a sensor configured to obtain the information about the at least one aspect. The method includes, based on the received information, accumulating historical data corresponding to the at least one aspect of a plurality of printing devices. The method further includes receiving, at the replenishment server, information indicative of the at least one aspect of a target printing device. The method yet further includes determining a trigger based on a comparison of the information received from the target printing device with the historical data corresponding to the at least one aspect of the plurality of printing devices and taking an action based on the trigger type.

Abstract: A system, method, computer program product and apparatus provide an improvement to administration and management of security certificates in enterprise scale networks. An exemplary embodiment integrates a network device manager (NDM) with Simple Certificate Enrollment Protocol (SCEP) for administration and management of network equipment and for handling certificates for enterprise-scale implementation. The network device manager may control the settings and is configured to communicate with the firmware of end devices. The SCEP thus has a medium in the network device manager through which the SCEP features can be communicated to the end devices. In an exemplary embodiment, aspects of the system may for example, automatically check expiration of and renew certificates that are expiring.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to formulation and implementation of rules associated with printing devices. One example embodiment includes a method. The method includes monitoring, by a computing device, events associated with one or more printing devices. The method also includes identifying, by the computing device, a correlation between a first event type of the monitored events and a second event type of the monitored events. Further, the method includes formulating, by the computing device, a rule based on the correlation. According to the rule, when the first event type occurs, the computing device causes the second event type to occur in response. In addition, the method includes receiving, by the computing device, an indication that the rule should be implemented on the one or more printing devices. The method further includes implementing, by the computing device, the rule on the one or more printing devices.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for predicting colorant usage by printing devices are provided. A prediction server can receive a request to predict colorant usage for a first printing device. The prediction server can determine first plurality of functions to predict colorant usage for the first printing device. The first plurality of functions can include at least one linear function and at least one non-linear function. The first plurality of functions can be based on colorant-usage rates indicating historical rates of change in colorant used by the first printing device. The prediction server can determine a prediction of colorant usage for the first printing device using the first plurality of functions. The prediction server can provide an output involving the prediction of colorant usage for the first printing device, where the prediction of colorant usage can include a confidence interval related to the prediction.

Abstract: Example systems and related methods may provide replenishment services for a plurality of printing devices. An example method includes receiving, at a replenishment server, information indicative of at least one aspect of a printing device. The printing device includes a sensor configured to obtain the information about the at least one aspect. The method includes, based on the received information, accumulating historical data corresponding to the at least one aspect of a plurality of printing devices. The method further includes receiving, at the replenishment server, information indicative of the at least one aspect of a target printing device. The method yet further includes determining a trigger based on a comparison of the information received from the target printing device with the historical data corresponding to the at least one aspect of the plurality of printing devices and taking an action based on the trigger type.

Abstract: A system, method, computer program product and apparatus provide an improvement to administration and management of security certificates in enterprise scale networks. An exemplary embodiment integrates a network device manager (NDM) with Simple Certificate Enrollment Protocol (SCEP) for administration and management of network equipment and for handling certificates for enterprise-scale implementation. The network device manager may control the settings and is configured to communicate with the firmware of end devices. The SCEP thus has a medium in the network device manager through which the SCEP features can be communicated to the end devices. In an exemplary embodiment, aspects of the system may for example, automatically check expiration of and renew certificates that are expiring.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for utilizing a network device manager (NDM) as an agent for printing devices are provided. An NDM executing on a computing device can be registered as a. as a maintenance agent for a plurality of printing devices. The NDM can be utilized as the maintenance agent for the plurality of printing devices by: receiving inputs related to modifying data at the NDM; receiving data from the plurality of printing devices at the NDM; modifying the data received from the plurality of printing devices based on the inputs related to modifying data using the NDM; sending the modified data from the NDM to a device management system; after sending the modified data, receiving, at the NDM from the device management system, one or more maintenance messages related to maintenance of the plurality of printing devices; and providing a notification of the one or more maintenance messages.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of arranging a cluster of printers that are able to run a customized container image based on the requirements of the applications in the container and the characteristics of the printers in the network. The method includes receiving a container image of software configured to be executed on printers. The method also includes determining and receiving a response to a query for printer characteristics using the server. Additionally, the method includes determining image-eligible micro-services that are configured to execute on a set of selected image-eligible printers selected based on a comparison of the response information with the container-eligible characteristics. Moreover, the method includes determining that the container image is configured to execute image-eligible micro-services. The method further includes, sending the container image to the image-eligible printers and executing the printer management application on the image-eligible printers.

Abstract: Example systems and related methods may provide replenishment services for a plurality of printing devices. An example method includes receiving, at a replenishment server, information indicative of at least one aspect of a printing device. The printing device includes a sensor configured to obtain the information about the at least one aspect. The method includes, based on the received information, accumulating historical data corresponding to the at least one aspect of a plurality of printing devices. The method further includes receiving, at the replenishment server, information indicative of the at least one aspect of a target printing device. The method yet further includes determining a trigger based on a comparison of the information received from the target printing device with the historical data corresponding to the at least one aspect of the plurality of printing devices and taking an action based on the trigger type.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to formulation and implementation of rules associated with printing devices. One example embodiment includes a method. The method includes monitoring, by a computing device, events associated with one or more printing devices. The method also includes identifying, by the computing device, a correlation between a first event type of the monitored events and a second event type of the monitored events. Further, the method includes formulating, by the computing device, a rule based on the correlation. According to the rule, when the first event type occurs, the computing device causes the second event type to occur in response. In addition, the method includes receiving, by the computing device, an indication that the rule should be implemented on the one or more printing devices. The method further includes implementing, by the computing device, the rule on the one or more printing devices.

Abstract: Example systems and related methods may provide improved defect detection and resolution for a plurality of printing devices. An example method includes receiving information indicative of at least one aspect of a printing device from among a plurality of printing devices. The plurality of printing devices is communicatively coupled to a server. Each printing device of the plurality of printing devices includes a sensor configured to provide information indicative of at least one aspect of the respective printing device. The method also includes, based on the received information, accumulating, at the server, historical data corresponding to the at least one aspect of the plurality of printing devices. The method yet further includes comparing the accumulated historical data with model reference data. The method additionally includes, based on the comparison, determining highlighted data and causing a display device to display the highlighted data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for updating data for printing devices are provided. A device state management system (DSMS) can send probe messages to printing devices. The DSMS can receive responses to the probe messages, where the number of probe messages can exceed the number of responses. After receiving the responses, a number of unconfirmed printing devices can be determined based on data stored in a device database (DDB) associated with the DSMS. The DSMS can determine a system-instability value associated with the number of unconfirmed printing devices. The DSMS can determine whether the system-instability value exceeds a threshold. After determining that the system-instability value exceeds the threshold, the DSMS can: determine address clusters associated with the unconfirmed printing devices; send probe messages to addresses within at least one address cluster; receive responses to the probe messages; and update the DDB using data in the responses.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to formulation and implementation of rules associated with printing devices. One example embodiment includes a method. The method includes monitoring, by a computing device, events associated with one or more printing devices. The method also includes identifying, by the computing device, a correlation between a first event type of the monitored events and a second event type of the monitored events. Further, the method includes formulating, by the computing device, a rule based on the correlation. According to the rule, when the first event type occurs, the computing device causes the second event type to occur in response. In addition, the method includes receiving, by the computing device, an indication that the rule should be implemented on the one or more printing devices. The method further includes implementing, by the computing device, the rule on the one or more printing devices.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for assessing printing devices are provided. A computing device can execute a first discovery technique to send discovery messages to connected devices that can include printing devices. The computing device can execute a second discovery technique different from the first discovery technique. The computing device can receive at least a first discovery response to the discovery messages. The computing device can execute the first discovery technique to identify a first device based on the first discovery response and determine whether the first device is a printing device. After determining the first device is a printing device, the computing device can execute the first discovery technique to determine whether the first device is a known printing device based on printing device information for the first device. After determining the first device is a known printing device, the computing device can provide an output assessing the first device.

Abstract: Example systems and related methods may provide replenishment services for a plurality of printing devices. An example method includes receiving, at a replenishment server, information indicative of at least one aspect of a printing device. The printing device includes a sensor configured to obtain the information about the at least one aspect. The method includes, based on the received information, accumulating historical data corresponding to the at least one aspect of a plurality of printing devices. The method further includes receiving, at the replenishment server, information indicative of the at least one aspect of a target printing device. The method yet further includes determining a trigger based on a comparison of the information received from the target printing device with the historical data corresponding to the at least one aspect of the plurality of printing devices and taking an action based on the trigger type.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for utilizing a network device manager (NDM) as an agent for printing devices are provided. An NDM executing on a computing device can be registered as a. as a maintenance agent for a plurality of printing devices. The NDM can be utilized as the maintenance agent for the plurality of printing devices by: receiving inputs related to modifying data at the NDM; receiving data from the plurality of printing devices at the NDM; modifying the data received from the plurality of printing devices based on the inputs related to modifying data using the NDM; sending the modified data from the NDM to a device management system; after sending the modified data, receiving, at the NDM from the device management system, one or more maintenance messages related to maintenance of the plurality of printing devices; and providing a notification of the one or more maintenance messages.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for predicting colorant usage by printing devices are provided. A prediction server can receive a request to predict colorant usage for a first printing device. The prediction server can determine first plurality of functions to predict colorant usage for the first printing device. The first plurality of functions can include at least one linear function and at least one non-linear function. The first plurality of functions can be based on colorant-usage rates indicating historical rates of change in colorant used by the first printing device. The prediction server can determine a prediction of colorant usage for the first printing device using the first plurality of functions. The prediction server can provide an output involving the prediction of colorant usage for the first printing device, where the prediction of colorant usage can include a confidence interval related to the prediction.

Abstract: Example systems and related methods may provide improved defect detection and resolution for a plurality of printing devices. An example method includes receiving information indicative of at least one aspect of a printing device from among a plurality of printing devices. The plurality of printing devices is communicatively coupled to a server. Each printing device of the plurality of printing devices includes a sensor configured to provide information indicative of at least one aspect of the respective printing device. The method also includes, based on the received information, accumulating, at the server, historical data corresponding to the at least one aspect of the plurality of printing devices. The method yet further includes comparing the accumulated historical data with model reference data. The method additionally includes, based on the comparison, determining highlighted data and causing a display device to display the highlighted data.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to distributed printing device management methods and devices. One example embodiment includes a method. The method includes receiving, at a first server within a network of distributed servers, an operation to be executed on a printing device. The method also includes transmitting, by the first server, a notification, to other servers within the network of distributed servers, indicating that the operation is available for execution. Further, the method includes receiving, at the first server, a response, from a second server within the network of distributed servers, indicating that the second server is available to execute the operation. Additionally, the method includes transmitting, by the first server, details associated with the operation to the second server. In addition, the method includes receiving, by the first server, a message from the second server indicating that the second server executed the operation on the printing device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for updating data for printing devices are provided. A device state management system (DSMS) can send probe messages to printing devices. The DSMS can receive responses to the probe messages, where the number of probe messages can exceed the number of responses. After receiving the responses, a number of unconfirmed printing devices can be determined based on data stored in a device database (DDB) associated with the DSMS. The DSMS can determine a system-instability value associated with the number of unconfirmed printing devices. The DSMS can determine whether the system-instability value exceeds a threshold. After determining that the system-instability value exceeds the threshold, the DSMS can: determine address clusters associated with the unconfirmed printing devices; send probe messages to addresses within at least one address cluster; receive responses to the probe messages; and update the DDB using data in the responses.