METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DIAGNOSIS AND CONTROL OF MACHINES USING CONNECTIONLESS MODES HAVING DELIVERY MONITORING AND AN ALTERNATE COMMUNICATION MODE

• US 20020004812A1
• Filed: 06/26/1997
• Published: 01/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited, Ricoh Corporation (Ricoh Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited, Ricoh Corporation (Ricoh Company Limited)
• Inventors: MOTOYAMA, TETSURO
• Application Number:
  US08/883,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20020004812A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting

Abstract

A method and system for retransmitting messages using an alternate mode of communication when an original mode of communication is determined to be unsuccessful. A message is first transmitted using a connectionless-mode of communication such as by using an Internet electronic mail message. A request for acknowledgment of receipt of the message and/or individual operators within the message is requested. If the acknowledgment of receipt of the message is not received within an appropriate time determined based on an urgency level of the reply, the message is retransmitted using a more reliable mode of communication such as a connection-mode of operation which includes a direct telephone connection over a public telephone network using a modem, using an ISDN line, or a cable with a cable modem.

Claims

1. A method of controlling communications, comprising the steps of:

transmitting, from a first device, a first message which is a connectionless-mode message to a second device;

monitoring, by the first device, whether the second device transmits a response to the message;

transmitting, by the first device, a second message when the first device does not receive a response to the connectionless-mode message.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the second message comprises:

transmitting the second message as a connection-mode message to the second device.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein:

the step of transmitting the connection-mode message is performed when the first device does not receive a response to the connectionless-mode message within a predetermined time period.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of:

determining the predetermined time period based on an urgency level of a requested reply.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of transmitting the connectionless-mode message comprises:

transmitting the connectionless-mode message as an Internet electronic mail message.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of transmitting the connection-mode message comprises:

transmitting the connection-mode message using a telephone line.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the step of transmitting the connection-mode message comprises:

transmitting the connection-mode message using the telephone line without using an Internet connection.

8. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of transmitting the connection-mode message comprises:

transmitting the connection-mode message using an ISDN line.

9. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of transmitting the connection-mode message comprises:

transmitting the connection-mode message using a cable.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the second message comprises:

displaying the second message on a display of the first device.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of displaying the second message comprises:

displaying a message indicating that service for the machine is needed.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of displaying the second message comprises:

displaying a message that an acknowledgment of receipt of the connectionless-mode message has not been received.

13. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of:

processing contents of the first message before transmitting the second message.

14. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

analyzing contents of the first message; and

transmitting a reply indicating the status of an operator within the message from the second device to the first device.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the step of transmitting a reply comprises:

transmitting one of an indication that the operator has not been received, has not yet begun executing, is in the process of executing, has finished executing, or has terminated executing abnormally.

16. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of transmitting from the first device the first message comprises:

transmitting the first message from the first device which is a business office device.

17. A method according to claim 2, wherein the step of monitoring comprises:

monitoring whether the second device which is a business office device transmits a response to the message.

18. A method of controlling communications, comprising the steps of:

transmitting, from a first device, a first message which is a connectionless-mode message to a second device;

receiving, by the second device the connectionless-mode message;

processing the connectionless-mode message by the second device; and

transmitting from the second device to the first device a second message which includes status information of an operator contained within the first message.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the step of transmitting from the second device comprises:

transmitting status information of the operator which includes one of an indication that an operator has not been received, has not yet begun executing, is in the process of executing, has finished executing, or has terminated executing abnormally.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein the step of transmitting from the first device the first message comprises:

transmitting the first message from the first device which is a business office device.

21. A method according to claim 18, wherein the step of transmitting from the second device comprises:

transmitting the second message from the second device which is a business office device.

22. A system for controlling communications, comprising:

means for transmitting, from a first device, a first message which is a connectionless-mode message to a second device;

means for monitoring, by the first device, whether the second device transmits a response to the message; and

means for transmitting, by the first device, a second message when the first device does not receive a response to the connectionless-mode message.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein the means for transmitting the second message comprises:

means for transmitting the second message as a connection-mode message to the second device.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein:

the means for transmitting the connection-mode message operates when the first device does not receive a response to the connectionless-mode message within a predetermined time period.

25. A system according to claim 24, further comprising:

means for determining the predetermined time period based on an urgency level of a requested reply.

26. A system according to claim 23, wherein the means for transmitting the connectionless-mode message comprises:

means for transmitting the connectionless-mode message as an Internet electronic mail message.

27. A system according to claim 23, wherein the means for transmitting the connection-mode message comprises:

means for transmitting the connection-mode message using a telephone line.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein the means for transmitting the connection-mode message comprises:

means for transmitting the connection-mode message using the telephone line without using an Internet connection.

29. A system according to claim 23, wherein the means for transmitting the connection-mode message comprises:

means for transmitting the connection-mode message using an ISDN line.

30. A system according to claim 23, wherein the means for transmitting the connection-mode message comprises:

means for transmitting the connection-mode message using a cable.

31. A system according to claim 22, wherein the means for transmitting the second message comprises:

means for displaying the second message on a display of the first device.

32. A system according to claim 31, wherein the means for displaying the second message comprises:

means for displaying a message indicating that service for the machine is needed.

33. A system according to claim 31, wherein the means for displaying the second message comprises:

means for displaying a message that an acknowledgment of receipt of the connectionless-mode message has not been received.

34. A system according to claim 23, further comprising:

means for processing contents of the first message before transmitting the second message.

35. A system according to claim 23, further comprising:

means for analyzing contents of the first message; and

means for transmitting a reply indicating the status of an operator within the message from the second device to the first device.

36. A system according to claim 35, wherein the means for transmitting a reply comprises:

means for transmitting one of an indication that the operator has not been received, has not yet begun executing, is in the process of executing, has finished executing, or has terminated executing abnormally.

37. A system according to claim 23, wherein the means for transmitting from the first device the first message comprises:

means for transmitting the first message from the first device which is a business office device.

38. A system according to claim 23, wherein the means for monitoring comprises:

means for monitoring whether the second device which is a business office device transmits a response to the message.

39. A system of controlling communications, comprising:

means for transmitting, from a first device, a first message which is a connectionless-mode message to a second device;

means for receiving, by the second device the connectionless-mode message;

means for processing the connectionless-mode message by the second device; and

means for transmitting from the second device to the first device a second message which includes status information of an operator contained within the first message.

40. A system according to claim 39, wherein the means for transmitting from the second device comprises:

means for transmitting status information of the operator which includes one of an indication that an operator has not been received, has not yet begun executing, is in the process of executing, has finished executing, or has terminated executing abnormally.

41. A system according to claim 39, wherein the means for transmitting from the first device the first message comprises:

means for transmitting the first message from the first device which is a business office device.

42. A system according to claim 39, wherein the means for transmitting from the second device comprises:

means for transmitting the second message from the second device which is a business office device.

43. A computer program product having a computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for controlling communications, comprising:

means for transmitting, from a first device, a first message which is a connectionless-mode message to a second device;

means for monitoring, by the first device, whether the second device transmits a response to the message; and

means for transmitting, by the first device, a second message when the first device does not receive a response to the connectionless-mode message.

44. A computer program product according to claim 43, wherein the means for transmitting the second message comprises:

means for transmitting the second message as a connection-mode message to the second device.

45. A computer program product according to claim 44, wherein:

the means for transmitting the connection-mode message operates when the first device does not receive a response to the connectionless-mode message within a predetermined time period.

46. A computer program product according to claim 45, further comprising:

means for determining the predetermined time period based on an urgency level of a requested reply.

47. A system according to claim 44, wherein the means for transmitting the connectionless-mode message comprises:

means for transmitting the connectionless-mode message as an Internet electronic mail message.