Method and system for diagnosis or control of machines

• US 20030093522A1
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1995
• 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:
  US10/326,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20030093522A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/43 Guanidines
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/85 Polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 11/00 Preparations for care of the teeth, of the oral cavity or of dentures; Dentifrices, e.g. toothpastes; Mouth rinses
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5075 Remote control machines, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00109 Remote control of apparatus, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0681 Configuration of triggering conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/065 related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00002 Diagnosis, testing or measuring; Detecting, analysing or monitoring not otherwise provided for error detection, error correction or monitoring in digital computers or digital computer components G06F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00007 relating to particular apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00029 Diagnosis, i.e. identifying a problem by comparison with a normal state
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00079 remotely
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00312 with a digital transmission apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, SMS or ISDN device transmitting or receiving via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network or the internet H04N1/00214; transmission of digital information H04L

Abstract

A method and system for communicating between a monitored and a monitoring device. Information pertaining to the monitored device is generated by sensors. This information is then stored in a memory. The information from the memory is transmitted over the Internet to the monitoring device. The transmitted information is subsequently received by the monitored device, and it is stored in a database connected the monitored device. Email or another form of communication may be used to transmit the information over the Internet.

Claims

1. A method for communicating between a monitored device and a monitoring device, comprising the steps of:

generating by sensors at the monitored device information of the status of the monitored device;

storing the information of the status of the monitored device;

transmitting the information of the status of the monitored device over the Internet;

receiving the status of the monitored device which has been transmitted over the Internet at the monitoring device; and

storing the status information in a database connected to the monitoring device.

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

transmitting the information as an Internet electronic mail message over the Internet.

3. A method according to claim 1, where the step of transmitting the information comprises:

transmitting the information as an Internet electronic mail message over the Internet using a protocol which is at an application layer.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the information comprises:

transmitting the information from the monitored device which is a business office device.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the step of transmitting the information comprises:

transmitting the information from at least one of a copier, a facsimile machine, and a printer.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising;

performed before the determining or transmitting steps, the step of;

registering address information of the monitoring device so that connection-mode and connectionless-mode communications can be sent to the monitoring device by the monitored device.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

encrypting the information to be transmitted.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving step comprises:

receiving the status by the monitoring device through a firewall.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

sharing information in the data base between more than one department.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

determining whether the information of the status of the monitored device is to be transmitted over the Internet.

11. A system for communicating between a monitored device and a monitoring device, comprising:

means for generating by sensors at the monitored device information of the status of the monitored device;

means for storing the information of the status of the monitored device;

means for transmitting the information of the status of the monitored device over the Internet;

means for receiving the status of the monitored device which has been transmitted over the Internet at the monitoring device; and

means for storing the status information in a database connected to the monitoring device.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the means for transmitting the information comprises:

means for transmitting the information as an Internet electronic mail message over the Internet.

13. A system according to claim 11, where the means for transmitting the information comprises:

means for transmitting the information as an Internet electronic mail message over the Internet using a protocol which is at an application layer.

14. A system according to claim 11, wherein the means for transmitting the information comprises:

means for transmitting the information from the monitored device which is a business office device.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the means for transmitting the information comprises:

means for transmitting the information from at least one of a copier, a facsimile machine, and a printer.

16. A system according to claim 11, further comprising:

means for registering address information of the monitoring device so that connection-mode and connectionless-mode communications can be sent to the monitoring device by the monitored device.

17. A system according to claim 11, further comprising:

means for encrypting the information to be transmitted.

18. A system according to claim 11, wherein the means for receiving comprises:

means for receiving the status through a firewall.

19. A system according to claim 11, further comprising:

means for sharing information in the data base between more than one department.

20. A system according to claim 11, further comprising:

means for determining whether the information of the status of the monitored device is to be transmitted over the Internet.

21. A system for communicating between a monitored device and a monitoring device, comprising:

sensors configured to generate information of the status of the monitored device;

a memory configured to store the information of the status of the monitored device;

a transmitter configured to transmit the information of the status of the monitored device over the Internet;

a receiver configured to receive the status of the monitored device which has been transmitted over the Internet at the monitoring device; and

a memory configured to store the status information in a database connected to the monitoring device.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein the transmitter comprises:

a transmitter configured to transmit the information as an Internet electronic mail message over the Internet.

23. A system according to claim 21, where the transmitter comprises:

a transmitter configured to transmit the information as an Internet electronic mail message over the Internet using a protocol which is at an application layer.

24. A system according to claim 21, wherein:

the monitored device is a business office device.

25. A system according to claim 24, wherein:

the business office device comprises at least one of a copier, a facsimile machine, and a printer.

26. A system according to claim 21, further comprising:

a device configured to register address information of the monitoring device so that connection-mode and connectionless-mode communications can be sent to the monitoring device by the monitored device.

27. A system according to claim 21, further comprising:

a device configured to encrypt the information to be transmitted.

28. A system according to claim 21, further comprising:

a firewall through which communications including the status are received.

29. A system according to claim 21, further comprising:

a device configured to share information in the data base between more than one department.

30. A system according to claim 21, further comprising:

a device configured to determine whether the information of the status of the monitored device is to be transmitted over the Internet.