System and method for remote maintenance, remote configuration and/or remote operation of an electro-photographic printing system or copying system

• US 20040190916A1
• Filed: 02/18/2004
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbH & Co KG (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbH & Co KG (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kathan, Berthold, Seeler, Matthias
• Granted Patent: US 7,130,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/8
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50

Abstract

In a system and method for remote maintenance, remote configuration and/or remote operation of an electrophotographic printing or copying system, a data processing system is connected with a communication unit of the printing or copying system via a network. Given a deactivated printing or copying system, the communication unit receives first data transmitted by the data processing system via the network and processes the transmitted first data. After receiving the first data, the communication unit activates a data processing unit of the printing or copying system. After the activation of the data processing unit, second data can be transmitted between the data processing system and the data processing unit.

Claims

1. A system for remote maintenance, remote configuration or remote operation of an electrophotographic printing or copying system, comprising:

a network via which a data processing system is connected with a communication unit of the printing or copying system;

the communication unit receiving and processing first data transmitted by the data processing system via the network when the printing or copying system is deactivated;

dependent on the first data, after reception the communication unit activates a data processing unit of the printing or copying system; and

second data are transmitted between the data processing system and the data processing unit after the activation of the printing or copying system data processing unit.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein with aid of the transmitted first data, an access occurs via the data processing system to a storage region of the printing or copying system, at least one default value of the printing or copying system being stored in the storage region.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein a management information base of the printing or copying system is provided in the storage region.

4. The system according to claim 2 wherein the accesses are at least one of read and write accesses.

5. The system according to claim 2 wherein the accesses occur with the aid of a remote method invocation communication.

6. The system according to claim 5 wherein SNMP commands are transmitted with aid of the remote method invocation communication.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the activation of the data processing unit can be optionally deactivated.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein at least one part of the network is a wide area network whereby a secure communication is produced via this network.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the communication unit and the data processing system are respectively connected with a modem whereby the modems are connected via a public telephone network.

10. The system according to claim 1 wherein the communication unit comprises a network adapter that, given a deactivated printing or copying system is supplied with an operating voltage.

11. The system according to claim 1 wherein the communication unit generates a signal when the first data comprises at least one of a network address of the communication unit and a MAC address of the communication unit.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein with aid of the signal, a power supply unit is activated to supply energy to the data processing unit.

13. The system according to claim 1 wherein error data and default values of the data processing unit are transmitted to the data processing system, and data with program elements and default values are transmitted from the data processing system to the data processing unit.

14. The system according to claim 1 wherein the data processing unit is deactivated after the transmission of the second data.

15. A method for remote maintenance, remote configuration or remote operation of an electrophotographic printing or copying system, comprising the steps of:

connecting a data processing system with a communication unit of the printing or copying system via a network;

when the printing or copying system is deactivated, receiving first data sent by the data processing system via the network and processing that first data with the communication unit;

after the processing of the first data by the communication unit, activating a data processing unit of the printing or copying system; and

transmitting second data between the data processing system and the data processing unit.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein with aid of the transmitted first data, an access occurs via the data processing system to a storage region of the printing or copying system, at least one default value of the printing or copying system being stored in the storage region.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein a management information base of the printing or copying system is provided in the storage region.

18. The method according to claim 16 wherein the accesses are at least one of read and write accesses.

19. The method according to claim 16 wherein the accesses occur with aid of a remote method invocation communication.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein SNMP commands are transmitted with aid of the remote method invocation communication.

21. The method according to claim 15 wherein the activation of the data processing unit can be optionally deactivated.

22. The method according to claim 15 wherein at least one part of the network is a wide area network, whereby a secure communication is produced via this network.

23. The method according to claim 15 wherein the communication unit and the data processing system are respectively connected with a modem whereby the modems are connected via a public telephone network.

24. The method according to claim 15 wherein the communication unit comprises a network adapter that, given a deactivated printing or copying system, is supplied with an operating voltage.

25. The method according to claim 15 wherein the communication unit generates a signal when the first data comprises at least one of a network address of the communication unit and a MAC address of the communication unit.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein with aid of the signal, a power supply unit is activated to supply energy to the data processing unit.

27. The method according to claim 15 wherein error data and default values of the data processing unit are transmitted to the data processing system, and data with program elements and default values are transmitted from the data processing system to the data processing unit.

28. The method according to claim 15 wherein the data processing unit is deactivated after the transmission of the second data.

29. A method for remote control of an electrophotographic printing or copying system, comprising the steps of:

connecting a remote control data processing system with a communication unit of the printing or copying system via a telephone network;

with the printing or copying system deactivated, sending first data by the remote control data processing system via the network to said communication unit, processing the first data with the communication unit, and dependent on that first data activating a data processing unit of the printing or copying system; and

transmitting second data between the remote control data processing system and the printing or copying system data processing unit.

30. A system for remote control of an electrophotographic printing or copying system, comprising:

a telephone network via which a remote control data processing system is connected with a communication unit of the printing or copying system;

with the printer or copying system deactivated, the communication unit receiving and processing first data transmitted by the remote control data processing system via the network;

dependent on the first data, after reception thereof the communication unit activates a data processing unit of the printing or copying system; and

second data being transmitted between the remote control data processing system and the system data processing unit.