Method and Apparatus to Communicate Data Associated with Media Processing Devices

Abstract

A disclosed example is a server residing on a first network. The server has an observer. The observer receives observational data from a media processing device residing on a second network via a first persistent connection between the media processing device and the server. The observer provides, via the first persistent connection, a configuration file to the media processing device that defines a type of the observational data to be collected by the media processing device. The observer is prevented from communicating an operational instruction to the media processing device. The operational instruction is to control media processing hardware of the media processing device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A media processing device residing on a network, the media processing device comprising:
 a monitor configured to:
 collect observational data associated with the media processing device in accordance with a configuration file stored on the media processing device; and 
 communicate the observational data to a first device external to the network via a first persistent connection between the media processing device and the first external device; and 
   a controller configured to:
 receive an operational instruction from a second external device via a second persistent connection between the media processing device and the second external device, wherein:
 the second persistent connection is independent of the first persistent connection; and 
 the second persistent connection has a first channel and a second channel; and 
 
 implement the operational instruction on the media processing device, wherein the operation instruction controls media processing hardware of the media processing device, and wherein at least one of the monitor and the controller is implemented via a logic circuit.