METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DIAGNOSING, CONTROLLING AND/OR MONITORING MACHINES USING EMAIL

• US 20030172115A1
• Filed: 10/30/1996
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tetsuro Motoyama
• Original Assignee: Tetsuro Motoyama
• Inventors: MOTOYAMA, TETSURO
• Granted Patent: US 6,970,952 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5079 for maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00109 Remote control of apparatus, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/06 Generation of reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/065 related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• 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 1/00209 : Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33323 : transmission mode only, e.g. speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/44 : Secrecy systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 : Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 : Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33342 : of transmission mode

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring, controlling and diagnosing operation of a machine such as a business office machine including a facsimile machine, a copier, and a printer. When the speed of communication between the remote device and machine is not urgent, a connectionless mode of communication may be used. The form of connectionless communication is an electronic mail message transmitted over the Internet. However, when a condition needs urgent action, a direct connection is used for communication such as communication via a telephone or ISDN line. The information obtained from the machine is stored in one or more data bases within a company and information of the machine is shared between a service department, engineering and design department, manufacturing department, and marketing department. As communication over the Internet via electronic mail is not secure, the connectionless-mode messages transmitted using Internet electronic mail are encrypted.

Claims

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

determining information to be transmitted by the monitored device, the information to be transmitted including information from sensors in the monitored device;

determining a mode of communication between the monitored and the monitoring device by determining if the information to be transmitted is to be transmitted using one of a connection-mode and a connectionless-mode of communication;

transmitting the information by a connection-mode of communication from the monitored device to the monitoring device, when the step of determining the mode of communication has determined that a connection-mode of communication is to be used; and

transmitting the information by a connectionless-mode of communication from the monitored device to the monitoring device, when the step of determining the mode of communication has determined that a connectionless-mode of communication is to be used.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the information by the connectionless-mode of communication comprises:

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

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the information by the connection-mode of communication comprises:

transmitting the information using one of a telephone line and an ISDN line.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting a message from the monitored device comprises:

transmitting a message from a business office device.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the step of transmitting a message from a business office device comprises:

transmitting a message from 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 when the step of determining the mode of communication has determined that a connectionless-mode of communication is to be used.

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

receiving the connectionless-mode communication by the monitoring device through a firewall.

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

storing the transmitted information in a data base; and

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

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

determining information to be transmitted by the monitoring device to the monitored device, the information including a request for a status of the monitored device determined using sensors within the monitored device; and

transmitting the information by a connectionless-mode of communication from the monitoring device to the monitored device.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of transmitting the information by the connectionless-mode of communication comprises:

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

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of transmitting a message from the monitoring device comprises:

transmitting a message to the monitored device which is a business office device.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the step of transmitting a message to the business office device comprises:

transmitting a message to one of a copier, a facsimile machine, and a printer.

14. A method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

receiving the transmitted information by the monitored device; and

transmitting a connectionless-mode communication from the monitored device to the monitoring device containing status information of the monitored device, in response to the transmitted information from the monitoring device.

15. A method according to claim 10, wherein the transmitting step comprises:

transmitting the information from the monitoring device to a plurality of monitored devices including the monitored device.

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

determining status information using at least one of a mechanical and electrical sensor; and

transmitting a connectionless-mode message from the machine to the monitoring device containing the status information.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of:

analyzing the status information by the machine,

wherein the status information is transmitted using the connectionless-mode message when the status information is analyzed and determined to be within a standard operating range.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

determining status information which is outside of normal operating parameters exists in the machine using at least one of the mechanical and electrical sensor; and

transmitting a connection-mode message from the machine to the monitoring device containing the status information which is outside of the normal operating parameters.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein the step of transmitting between the business office machine and the monitoring device comprises:

transmitting an Internet electronic mail message between a device selected from the group consisting of a copier, a facsimile machine, and a printer, and the monitoring device.

20. A method for communicating between a machine and a monitoring device comprising the steps of:

receiving a connectionless-mode message from the monitoring device by the machine;

analyzing the message by the machine; and

performing an action by the machine in response to the message, after the message is analyzed.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the analyzing step includes:

parsing the message; and

determining an action which the message requests to be taken.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the step of performing an action comprises:

transmitting a response message from the machine to the monitoring device in response to the message.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the step of transmitting comprises:

transmitting the response message which contains information of the machine including information obtained from sensors, when the received connectionless-mode message requests a value to be returned.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the step of transmitting comprises:

transmitting the response message which is a connectionless-mode message.

25. A method according to claim 20, wherein the receiving step comprises:

receiving the connectionless mode message which is an internet electronic mail message.

26. A computer program product having a computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for implementing communication between two devices, comprising:

means for determining information to be transmitted by a first device;

means for determining a mode of communication between the first and a second device by determining if the information to be transmitted is to be transmitted using one of a connection-mode and a connectionless-mode of communication;

means for transmitting the information by a connection-mode of communication from the first device to the second device, when the means for determining the mode of communication has determined that a connection-mode of communication is to be used; and

means for transmitting the information by a connection-mode of communication from the first device to a second device, when the means for determining the mode of communication has determined that a connection-mode of communication is to be used.

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

sensors within the monitored device which sense information to be transmitted to the monitoring device;

means for determining a mode of communication between the monitored and the monitoring device by determining if the information to be transmitted it to be transmitted using one of a connection-mode and a connectionless-mode of communication;

a connection-mode transmitter which transmits the information by a connection-mode of communication from the monitored device to the monitoring device, when the means for determining the mode of communication has determined that a connection-mode of communication is to be used; and

a connectionless-mode transmitter which transmits the information by a connectionless-mode of communication from the monitored device to the monitoring device, when the means for determining the mode of communication has determined that a connectionless-mode of communication is to be used.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein the connectionless-mode transmitter comprises:

a transmitter which transmits the information as an Internet electronic mail message over the Internet.

29. A system according to claim 27, wherein the connection-mode transmitter comprises:

a transmitter which transmits the information using one of a telephone line and an ISDN line.

30. A system according to claim 27, wherein the monitored device is a business office device.

31. A system according to claim 30, wherein the business office device is one of a copier, a facsimile machine, and a printer.

32. A system according to claim 27, 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.

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

means for encrypting the information to be transmitted when the means for determining the mode of communication has determined that a connectionless-mode of communication is to be used.

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

a firewall, connected to monitoring device, through which connection-mode communications from the monitored device pass.

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

a data base which stores the transmitted information; and

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

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

means for determining information to be transmitted by the monitoring device to the monitored device, the information including a request for a status of the monitored device determined using sensors within the monitored device; and

a connectionless-mode transmitter which transmits the information by a connectionless-mode of communication from the monitoring device to the monitored device.

37. A system according to claim 36, wherein the connectionless-mode transmitter comprises:

a transmitter which transmits the information as an Internet electronic mail message over the Internet.

38. A system according to claim 36, wherein the monitoring device is a business office device.

39. A system according to claim 38, wherein the business office device is one of a copier, a facsimile machine, and a printer.

40. A system according to claim 36, wherein the monitored device further comprises:

a receiver which receives the transmitted information; and

a transmitter which transmits a connectionless-mode communication from the monitored device to the monitoring device containing status information of the monitored device, in response to the transmitted information from the monitoring device.

41. A system according to claim 36, wherein the connectionless-mode transmitter comprises:

a transmitter which transmits the information from the monitoring device to a plurality of monitored devices including the monitored device.

42. A system for communicating between a machine and a monitoring device, comprising:

sensors within the machine which senses status information to be transmitted to the monitoring device; and

a connectionless-mode transmitter which transmits the status information by a connectionless-mode of communication from the machine to the monitoring device.

43. A system according to claim 42, further comprising:

means for analyzing the status information by the machine,

wherein the status information is transmitted using the connectionless-mode transmitter when the status information is analyzed and determined to be within a standard operating range.

44. A system according to claim 43, further comprising:

means for determining status information which is outside of normal operating parameters exists in the machine using said sensors; and

transmitting a connection-mode message from the machine to the monitoring device containing the status information which is outside of the normal operating parameters.

45. A system according to claim 43, wherein the connectionless-mode transmitter comprises:

a transmitter which transmits the information as an Internet electronic mail message over the Internet.

46. A system for communicating between a machine and a monitoring device comprising:

a receiver within the monitored device which receives a connectionless-mode message from the monitoring device;

means for analyzing the message by the machine; and

means for performing an action by the machine in response to the message, after the message is analyzed.

47. A system according to claim 46, wherein the analyzing means includes:

a parser which parses the message; and

means for determining an action which the message requests to be taken.

48. A system according to claim 47, wherein the means for performing an action comprises:

a transmitter which transmits a response message from the machine to the monitoring device in response to the message.

49. A system according to claim 48, wherein the transmitter comprises:

a transmitter which transmits the response message which contains information of the machine including information obtained from sensors, when the received connectionless-mode message requests a value to be returned.

50. A system according to claim 49, wherein the transmitter is a connectionless-mode transmitter.

51. A system according to claim 46, wherein the receiver is an Internet electronic mail receiver.