US5467449A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fault clearance and recovery in an electronic reprographic system
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1995-01-31
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Granted: 1995-11-14
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Expires: 2015-01-31
Abstract
Abstract A fault clearance and recovery operation in an electronic reprographic system comprises storing in memory clearance and recovery instructions for specific system faults, monitoring the system for fault occurrence and accessing displaying the stored instructions upon detection of a fault occurrence. Faults having similar recovery features are classified into buckets to facilitate the clearance and recovery operations.
Inventors
- 👤 John F. Gauronski
- 👤 Kurt T. Knodt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:10
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/32; H04N1/32609; G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/0703; G06F11/0706; G06F11/0733; G06F11/0793; G06F11/30; G06F11/32; G06F11/321; H04N1/0035; H04N1/00352; H04N1/00397; H04N1/00405; H04N1/00408; H04N1/00411; H04N1/00413; H04N1/00416; H04N1/00419; H04N1/00424; H04N1/00432; H04N1/00437; H04N1/00474; H04N1/00477; H04N1/0048; H04N1/00482; H04N1/32625; H04N1/32635; H04N1/32646; H04N1/32667; G06F11/14; G06F11/1402; G06F11/1415; G06F11/1438
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
A method for clearance and recovery of faults in an electronic reprographic system, comprising the steps of: storing in memory clearance and recovery instructions for specific system faults; monitoring the system for fault occurrence during a normal system operating mode; detecting at least two fault occurrences during the normal system operating mode; grouping the at least two detected fault occurrences into at least one fault bucket, each fault bucket having a unique set of specific clearance and recovery instructions corresponding to the fault bucket and each fault bucket comprising a collection of faults which require the same unique set of specific clearance and recovery instructions corresponding to the fault bucket; automatically accessing, based on at least one fault bucket, at least one unique set of specific clearance and recovery instructions corresponding to the at least one fault bucket; automatically initiating clearance of and recovery from the at least two fault occurrences using the accessed at least one unique set of specific clearance and recovery instructions without requiring an operator to assist in restoring the system to the normal system operating mode; and automatically displaying appropriate ones of the accessed clearance and recovery instructions corresponding to the at least one fault bucket when automatic recovery from the at least two fault occurrences fails to restore the system to the normal system operating mode, the appropriate ones of the accessed clearance and recovery instructions enabling an operator to manually initiate and perform clearance and recovery.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
243 words
A method for clearance and recovery of faults in an electronic reprographic system, comprising the steps of: storing in memory clearance and recovery instructions for specific system faults; monitoring the system for fault occurrence during a normal system operating mode; detecting at least two fault occurrences during the normal system operating mode; grouping the at least two detected fault occurrences into at least one fault bucket, each fault bucket having a unique set of specific clearance and recovery instructions corresponding to the fault bucket and each fault bucket comprising a collection of faults which require the same unique set of specific clearance and recovery instructions corresponding to the fault bucket; automatically accessing, based on at least one fault bucket, at least one unique set of specific clearance and recovery instructions corresponding to the at least one fault bucket; automatically initiating clearance of and recovery from the at least two fault occurrences using the accessed at least one unique set of specific clearance and recovery instructions without requiring an operator to assist in restoring the system to the normal system operating mode; and automatically displaying appropriate ones of the accessed clearance and recovery instructions corresponding to the at least one fault bucket when automatic recovery from the at least two fault occurrences fails to restore the system to the normal system operating mode, the appropriate ones of the accessed clearance and recovery instructions enabling an operator to manually initiate and perform clearance and recovery.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of displaying clearance and recovery instructions includes displaying instructions for differing system functions in separate display areas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of monitoring the system for predictable fault occurrences during a normal system operating mode; and automatically displaying warnings upon a determination that specific system operations will result in a fault occurrence.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: monitoring an input of specific operation requests into the system and performance by the system of specific operation requests; and displaying failure messages when an operation cannot be completed for any reason.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: identifying system functions affected by a detected fault; and continuing operation of any functions not affected by the detected fault.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the displaying step includes displaying a step-by-step series of clearance instructions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the displaying step includes displaying particular areas of a scanner which require clearance in response to detection of a scanner fault.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said displaying step includes updating any displayed recovery instructions as different system faults are detected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of automatically initiating a recovery further includes a determining step that determines if the at least two fault occurrences can be removed without the assistance of the operator, the determining step initiates the step of automatically displaying appropriate clearance and recovery instructions when assistance from the operator is necessary.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein all faults grouped in a fault bucket are cleared when the appropriate clearance and recovery instructions are executed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
163 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the automatically accessing step comprises the step of automatically compiling a set of unique clearance and recovery instructions from the at least one unique set of specific clearance and recovery instructions corresponding to the at least one fault bucket; wherein the step of automatically initiating clearance of and recovery from the at least two fault occurrences comprises using the compiled set of unique clearance and recovery instructions without requiring an operator to assist in restoring the system to the normal operating mode; and wherein the step of automatically displaying appropriate ones of the accessed clearance and recovery instructions comprises displaying appropriate ones of the compiled set of unique clearance and recovery instructions when automatic recovery from the at least two fault occurrences fails to restore the system to the normal system operating mode, the appropriate ones of the compiled set of unique clearance and recovery instructions enabling an operator to manually initiate and perform clearance and recovery.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
256 words
An apparatus for clearance and recovery of faults in an electronic reprographic system, comprising: storage means for storing in memory clearance and recovery instructions for specific system faults; monitoring means for monitoring the system for at least two fault occurrences during a normal system operating mode, and for detecting at least two fault occurrences; grouping means for grouping the at least two detected fault occurrences into at least one fault bucket, each fault bucket having a unique set of specific clearance and recovery instructions corresponding to the fault bucket and each fault bucket comprising a collection of faults which require the same unique set of specific clearance and recovery instructions corresponding to the fault bucket; accessing means for automatically accessing, based on at least one fault bucket, at least one unique set of specific clearance and recovery instructions corresponding to the at least one fault bucket; automatic clearance and recovery means for automatically initiating clearance of and recovery from the at least two fault occurrences using the accessed at least one unique set of specific clearance and recovery instructions without requiring an operator to assist in restoring the system to the normal system operating mode; and display means for automatically displaying appropriate ones of the accessed clearance and recovery instructions corresponding to the at least one fault bucket when automatic recovery fails to restore the system to the normal system operating mode, the displaying of the appropriate ones of the accessed clearance and recovery instructions enabling an operator to manually initiate and perform clearance and recovery.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
256 words
An apparatus for clearance and recovery of faults in an electronic reprographic system, comprising: storage means for storing in memory clearance and recovery instructions for specific system faults; monitoring means for monitoring the system for at least two fault occurrences during a normal system operating mode, and for detecting at least two fault occurrences; grouping means for grouping the at least two detected fault occurrences into at least one fault bucket, each fault bucket having a unique set of specific clearance and recovery instructions corresponding to the fault bucket and each fault bucket comprising a collection of faults which require the same unique set of specific clearance and recovery instructions corresponding to the fault bucket; accessing means for automatically accessing, based on at least one fault bucket, at least one unique set of specific clearance and recovery instructions corresponding to the at least one fault bucket; automatic clearance and recovery means for automatically initiating clearance of and recovery from the at least two fault occurrences using the accessed at least one unique set of specific clearance and recovery instructions without requiring an operator to assist in restoring the system to the normal system operating mode; and display means for automatically displaying appropriate ones of the accessed clearance and recovery instructions corresponding to the at least one fault bucket when automatic recovery fails to restore the system to the normal system operating mode, the displaying of the appropriate ones of the accessed clearance and recovery instructions enabling an operator to manually initiate and perform clearance and recovery.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said display means displays clearance and recovery instructions for differing system functions in separate display areas.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein: said monitoring means monitoring the system for predictable fault occurrences during a normal system operating mode; and said display means automatically displaying warnings upon a determination that specific system operations will result in a fault occurrence.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 12, further comprising: said monitoring means monitoring an input of specific operation requests into the system and performance by the system of specific operation requests; and said display means displaying failure messages when an operation cannot be completed for any reason.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 12, further comprising: determining means for identifying system functions affected by a detected fault; and means enabling continuing operation of any functions not affected by the detected fault.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said displaying means displays a step-by-step series of clearance instructions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein: said displaying means displays particular areas of a scanner which require clearance in response to detection of a scanner fault.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein: said displaying means updates any displayed recovery instructions as different system faults are detected.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the automatic recovery means further includes a determining means for determining if the at least two fault occurrences can be removed without the assistance of the operator, the determining means signals the display means to begin displaying appropriate clearance and recovery instructions when assistance from the operator is necessary.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
156 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein: the accessing means comprises means for automatically compiling a set of unique clearance and recovery instructions from the at least one unique set of specific clearance and recovery instructions corresponding to the at least one fault bucket; the automatic clearance and recovery means comprises means for automatically initiating clearance of and recovery from the at least two fault occurrences using the compiled set of unique clearance and recovery instructions without requiring an operator to assist in restoring the system to the normal operating mode; and the display means comprises means for automatically displaying appropriate ones of the compiled set of unique clearance and recovery instructions when automatic recovery from the at least two fault occurrences fails to restore the system to the normal system operating mode, the appropriate ones of the compiled set of unique clearance and recovery instructions enabling an operator to manually initiate and perform clearance and recovery.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-11-13 | 1999-05-15 | 1999-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-11-13 | 2003-05-15 | 2003-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-11-13 | 2007-05-15 | 2007-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |