Remote control system and controlled apparatus therein capable of sending e-mail if communication request fails

• US 20050243804A1
• Filed: 03/18/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Watai, Katsumi
• Granted Patent: US 8,166,153 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed that can be remote controlled by a controlling apparatus via a network. The apparatus includes a communication request transmission unit configured to transmit a communication request including an operation request to the controlling apparatus. The apparatus further includes a mail transmission unit configured to transmit, if a normal operation response to the operation request has not been received, an e-mail message including the operation request to the controlling apparatus. This e-mail message ensures the controlling apparatus to receive the operation request that has not successfully received yet.

Claims

1. An apparatus that can be remote controlled by a controlling apparatus via a network, comprising:

a communication request transmission unit configured to transmit a communication request including an operation request to the controlling apparatus; and

a mail transmission unit configured to transmit, if a normal operation response to the operation request has not been received, an e-mail message including the operation request to the controlling apparatus.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is connected to the network via a firewall.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is connected to the network via an intermediate apparatus.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mail transmission unit is further configured to transmit, if a normal operation response to the operation request has not been received, an e-mail message indicating so to a terminal apparatus of a user of the apparatus.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said mail transmission unit is further configured to change the destination of the e-mail message based on the type of operation request to which the normal operation response has not been received.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said communication request transmission unit is further configured to transmit a HTTP request including a SOAP request to the controlling apparatus;

and

said mail transmission unit is further configured to transmit, if a normal SOAP response to the SOAP request has not been received, an e-mail message including the SOAP request to the controlling apparatus.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the apparatus is connected to the network via a firewall.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the apparatus is connected to the network via an intermediate apparatus.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, said mail transmission unit is further configured to transmit, if a normal SOAP response to the SOAP request has not been received, an e-mail message indicating so to a terminal apparatus of a user of the apparatus.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said mail transmission unit is further configured to change the destination of the e-mail message based on the type of SOAP request to which the normal SOAP response has not been received.

11. A remote control system, comprising:

an apparatus; and

a controlling apparatus configured to remote control said apparatus via a network,

wherein

said apparatus is configured to transmit a communication request including an operation request to said controlling apparatus, and transmit, if a normal operation response to the operation request has not been received, an e-mail message including the operation request to said controlling apparatus; and

said controlling apparatus is configured to receive the communication request from said apparatus, and transmit a communication response indicating whether the receipt of the communication request has been successfully completed to said apparatus.

12. The remote control system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the apparatus is connected to the network via a firewall.

13. The remote control system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the apparatus is connected to the network via an intermediate apparatus.

14. The remote control system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said apparatus is further configured to transmit, if a normal operation response to the operation request has not been received, an e-mail message indicating so to a terminal apparatus of a user of said apparatus.

15. The remote control system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said apparatus is further configured to change the destination of the e-mail message based on the type of operation request to which the normal operation response has not been received.

16. The remote control system as claimed in claim 11,

wherein

said apparatus is further configured to transmit a HTTP request including a SOAP request to said controlling apparatus, and transmit, if a normal SOAP response to the SOAP request has not been received, an e-mail message including the SOAP request to said controlling apparatus;

and

said controlling apparatus is further configured to receive the HTTP request from said apparatus, and transmit a HTTP response indicating whether the receipt of the HTTP request has been successfully completed to said apparatus.

17. The remote control system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the apparatus is connected to the network via a firewall.

18. The remote control system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the apparatus is connected to the network via an intermediate apparatus.

19. The remote control system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said apparatus is further configured to transmit, if a normal operation response to the operation request has not been received, an e-mail message indicating so to a terminal apparatus of a user of said apparatus.

20. The remote control system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said apparatus is further configured to change the destination of the e-mail message based on the type of operation request to which the normal operation response has not been received.

21. In a system including a controlling apparatus and an apparatus connected to the controlling apparatus via a network, a method of remote controlling the apparatus via the network, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a communication request including an operation request to the controlling apparatus; and

transmitting, if a normal operation response to the operation request has not been received, an e-mail message including the operation request to the controlling apparatus.

22. A computer program product storing a set of coded instructions that causes a computer included in an apparatus connected to a controlling apparatus via a network, if executed by the computer, to perform the steps of:

transmitting a communication request including an operation request to the controlling apparatus; and

transmitting, if a normal operation response to the operation request has not been received, an e-mail message including the operation request to the controlling apparatus.