FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to multi-functional peripherals (MFPs), and more particularly relates to a method for automatically updating web-based information directly on an MFP by configuring specified RSS feeds for a particular web page which provides users the updated information directly from the MFP.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
in recent years, multi-functional peripherals (MFPs) have come into widespread use in business and honie settings. Such devices provide a broader range of functionality than that provided by traditional single-function devices, such as dedicated printers, scanners, copiers, facsimile machines etc. Certain existing MFPs utilize web browsers and applications on personal computers (PCs) in order to access information from the World Wide Web.
The RSS is a structured document format for describing the updated information of the website. A user uses application software known as an RSS feed to acquire RSS data from a registered website and to easily and promptly acquire updated information of the registered website.
In the state of the art literature the patent application titled "System and method for printer-based syndication" teaches a printer integrates an aggregation module that autonomously retrieves syndication information from syndication

network locations through a network for printing. Syndication information formatted in a syndication format having schema headers, such as RSS, is retrieved according to retrieval factors input by a user to the printer, such as at periodic intervals or at update indications received from the syndication network locations. The aggregation module retrieves syndication Information associated with schema headers from the syndication network location to provide content to a print page as the page Is formatted. A menu at the printer accepts user inputs of desired syndication information and retrieval factors for complete autonomy of the printer in the printing of syndication information to a print medium.
The patent application relates to a method and system for printer-based syndication of information. A printer is connected with the syndication network locations. The syndication Information is retrieved by the printer from syndication network locations. The printer interfaces with the network locations to print the syndication information on a physical medium. The patent application enables aggregation of the syndication information from the syndication format into print format with the help of an aggregating module. The aggregating module interfaces with network locations and it is integrated with the printer. However, the patent application has been described with respect to a printer and does not mention an MFP and also the concept of designating a device to combine Information from devices with similar capability and presenting the combined Information to other network clients has not been mentioned.
Currently, MFP devices process jobs that are submitted by a user over a direct

interface or over the network. The various desired outputs for the processed job in the prior art is not described. Therefore, a method for automatically updating web-based information directly on an MFP where the desired output can be in any form like email message, fax, printed copy, scan and the like based on the user preferences is needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not
an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to
I) delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a
simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented
later.
The primary object of the present invention is to disclose a method for automatically updating web-based information directly on an MFP by configuring specified RSS feeds for a particular web page which enables MFP devices to compose and process jobs by utilizing information provided by RSS feeds.
Accordingly the present invention relates to a method wherein the RSS feed for a particular web page in network is composed. Further, the MFP device is interfaced to a network to communicate with the RSS feed jobs, then aggregating RSS job at the MFP to format the output and automatically providing desired output by MFP.

Accordingly the present invention relates to a method wherein the administrator configures the MFP device by specifying RSS feeds and permission roles like admin, user and guest can be implemented.
} Accordingly the present invention relates to a method wherein the user can be
able to compose jobs upon RSS feeds configuration done by administrator.
Accordingly the present invention relates to a method wherein the MFP device can queue the job for processing upon composing of RSS feed job by the user to provide desired output.
Accordingly the present invention relates to a method wherein the users can be able to specify that the aggregation phase be performed as a separate step to allow for better flexibility.
Accordingly the present invention relates to a method wherein a device is designated to combine information from devices with similar capability and the combined information can be presented to other network clients.
Accordingly the present invention relates to a method wherein the updated information is automatically retrieved on a MFP device from website and performing an appropriate action upon receiving the updated information.
Accordingly the present invention relates to a method wherein the device can be

configured to subscribe to an RSS feed that provides updated configuration information and also the users can configure the devices on their network by updating the appropriate RSS feeds.
Accordingly the invention explains a method for automatically updating web-based information directly on an MFP device comprising the steps of:
configuring a specified RSS feed for a particular web page;
interfacing the MFP device to a network to communicate with an RSS feed job ; and
aggregating the RSS feed job at the MFP device to format an output thereby resulting in automatically providing the desired output.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING FIGURES
Example embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
Figure 1: illustrates the general topology with RSS and MFP devices integration.
Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary view of different feed permissions that can be specified by the administrator for composing RSS jobs.

Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary view of additional output related parameters that can be specified by the user for RSS jobs.
Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood however that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. The following description and drawings are not to be construed as limiting the invention and numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention, as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use
t
the invention. However in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention in detail.
The present invention proposes a method for automatically updating web-based information directly on an MFP by configuring specified RSS feeds for a particular web page which enables MFP devices to compose and process jobs

by utilizing information provided by RSS feeds.
i Figure 1 illustrates the general topology with RSS and MFP devices integration.
The topology illustrates the architecture of the complete network which consists
of server, user interface, and MFP devices. The administrator composes the RSS
feeds for the user to compose the RSS jobs. The network can include more than
one server to provide the RSS feed available in the network. And also, more than
one MFP can be included in the network for RSS feed, RSS aggregation support,
and also to provide desired output to the users by processing the job composed
by the users in the form of an email message, fax, printed copy, scan and the like
based on the user preferences.
Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary view of different feed permissions that can be specified by the administrator for composing RSS jobs. The administrator of the device can be able to configure the availability of RSS feeds by using the local device interface or remotely using the web interface that can be available to the users of the device. Additionally, only RSS feeds that have been specified by the administrator can be used for composing RSS jobs. The RSS feeds can include the name and location of [the site as shown'in the figure 2. The name can be the registered domain name, for example "Yahoo! News: Technology News" and the location of the site can be the link for the particular site, for example "http://rss.news.yahoo.com/rss/tech". Additionally, the administrator can also specify the permissions for each user/role. The three permission roles can be used, admin, user andi guest, additional roles can also be implemented depending on the particular device and also multiple websites can be fed using

RSS feeds.
The RSS feeds configured by the administrator can be further used for job composition by the user which is illustrated in figure 3.
Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary view of additional output related parameters that can be specified by the user for RSS jobs. Once the availability and permissions of the RSS feeds is configured by the device administrator, users can be able to compose jobs by specifying the RSS feeds they are interested in as shown in the figure 3.
Further, the users can specify the job parameters according to his/her desire. Additionally, users can be able to select the frequency of the job by designating whether the information should be retrieved daily, weekly, monthly or so on, along with the time to aggregate the RSS feeds and the time to process by specifying the specific time in a day. The user can also specify the form of output which he/she desires i.e, in a form of an email message, fax, printed copy, scan and the like based on the user preferences. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the output is specified as hard copy specifying the size of the paper as letter and also total number of copies desired as shown in figure 3. Thus, the preferred output can be selected.
More precisely, users can be able to select the output to be generated for the job. For example, a user can select hard copy or soft copy to be sent as a mail, SMS or so on. Depending on the particular output selection, the user can be

able to specify additional output related parameters, like paper size, number of copies etc.
Accordingly, upon the completion of composing the RSS feed job by the users, the device can start the job processing for the RSS feed by queuing the job for immediate processing or it can defer processing the Job at a latter time depending upon the frequency and time in which job has to be accomplished.
The RSS feed jobs can be processed by first aggregating the data from the selected RSS feeds over the network, operating on the data based on selected job parameters, generating the specified output, updating the job status and notifying the user. During aggregation, the MFP device can be able to access data that was' introduced since the last time the job was processed. Additionally, aggregation can also be time limited only to the latest data available from the RSS feeds and also users can be able to specify that the aggregation phase be performed as a separate step to allow for better flexibility.
It is appreciated that the MFP device can be able to handle RSS jobs as specified by the user in the same way that other jobs are being handled. For eScample, RSS job status and user notification can be provided using the local Ul, remote Ul or SNMP.
In another embodiment of the present invention describes about aggregating device information by designating a device to combine information from other devices with similar capability and then present the combined data on the local

interface, remote interface or as an RSS feed to other network clients. More precisely, a method wherein a device is designated to combine information from devices with similar capability and the combined information can be presented to other network clients is disclosed.
Additionally, it is to be noted that the software has to be updated time to time for the updated information such as release of a new firmware etc. Therefore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the device can be configured to subscribe to an RSS feed that provides automated software updates. The RSS feed can be provided by the manufacturer of the device, a networked server or a master device on the network. The device will then receive the latest software in the form of a podcast and update itself. The update can be completed automatically or at the direction of an administrator.
Also, the device can be configured to subscribe to an RSS feed that provides automated updated configuration information. The configuration information can be divided into common configuration that applies to multiple devices and individual configuration that applies to a single device.
Further, multiple devices can be configured to subscribe to the common RSS feed and specific devices can be configured to subscribe to individual RSS feeds. The users can then be able to configure the devices on their network by updating the appropriate RSS feeds.

In general, the MFP device can be configured to subscribe to an RSS feed that provides updated information which can be processed and converted to the desired output based on the MFP capabilities. The end result can be any possible jobs supported by the MFP device like the print of the updated data, or fax or email or other end results where MFP's capabilities can be harnessed.
Although the present invention has been fully described in connection with the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications are possible and are apparent to those skilled [in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims unless they depart there from.

Glossary of Terms and their definitions:
MFP: Multi Function Peripheral
RSS: Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary
XML: Extensible Markup llanguage
UI: User interface
SNMP: Simple Network Management Protocol

We Claim:
1. A method for automatically updating web-based information directly on an MFP device comprising the steps of:
configuring a specified RSS feed for a particular web page;
interfacing the MFP device to a network to communicate with an RSS feed job ; and
aggregating the RSS feed job at the MFP device to format an output thereby resulting in' automatically providing the desired output.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an administrator composes the RSS feeds for a user to compose the RSS jobs.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the administrator configure the availability of RSS feeds by using the MFP device interface or remotely using a web interface.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the administrator can specify the permissions for each user.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein RSS feed includes the name and location of the web page.

6:A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein users can compose jobs by specifying the RSS feeds once the availability and permissions of the RSS feeds is configured by the administrator.
7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein additional output related parameters can be specified by the user for RSS jobs.
8. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the user specifying the form of the output.
9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein during aggregation, the MFP device can access data introduced since the last time the job was processed.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein aggregation is adapted to be time limited only to the latest data available from the RSS feeds and the user can specify the performing of the aggregation phase as a separately.
11. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of aggregating device information by designating a device to combine information from other devices with similar capability.
12. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising subscribing to an RSS feed that provides automated updated configuration information.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein multiple MFP devices can be
configured to subscribe to the common RSS feed and specific devices can be
configured to subscribe to individual RSS feeds.
i
14. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein MFP device is adapted to be
configured to subscribe to an RSS feed that provides updated information which
can be processed and converted to the desired output based on the MFP
capabilities.
15. A method for automatically updating web-based information directly on an
MFP device as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.