TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates generally to management of groups of multifunction peripherals. The application relates more particularly to automated interaction between a fleet of multifunction peripherals to provide device configuration suggestions, maintenance recommendations, supply recommendations or supply orders to an administrator's handheld digital device.

BACKGROUND

Document processing devices include printers, copiers, scanners and e-mail gateways. More recently, devices employing two or more of these functions are found in office environments. These devices are referred to as multifunction peripherals (MFPs) or multifunction devices (MFDs). As used herein, MFPs are understood to comprise printers, alone or in combination with other of the afore-noted functions. It is further understood that any suitable document processing device can be used.

Many businesses have a large number of MFPs in service. It may be extremely difficult to determine what could be done to improve device operations or user convenience for a large number, or fleet, of such devices.

