Method and system for controlling and communicating with machines using multiple communication formats

• US 20050256934A1
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Motoyama, Tetsuro
• Application Number:
  US10/702,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20050256934A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/208
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

A method and system method of controlling a first device by a second device. The method includes receiving, by the second device, a first message transmitted by the first device; determining, by the second device, a type of the first device; determining, by the second device, a communication protocol utilized by the first device based on the type of the first device and by looking up an identifier contained within the first message; extracting, by the second device, formatted data from the first message based on the communication protocol utilized by the first device; determining whether a customer support device should to be contacted based on the extracted formatted data; contacting the customer support device if the preceding determining step determines that the customer support device should to be contacted; constructing, by the second device, a second message containing an instruction for controlling the first device based on results of the preceding determining and contacting steps; transmitting the second message from the second device to the first device; receiving, by the first device, the second message transmitted by the second device; and performing, by the first device, an operation in response to the second message transmitted by the second device.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a first device by a second device, comprising:

receiving a first message transmitted by the first device;

determining a type of the first device;

determining a communication protocol utilized by the first device based on the type of the first device and by looking up an identifier contained within the first message;

extracting formatted data from the first message based on the communication protocol utilized by the first device;

determining whether a customer support device should to be contacted based on the extracted formatted data; and

contacting the customer support device if the preceding determining step determines that the customer support device should to be contacted.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

constructing a second message containing an instruction for controlling the first device based on results of the contacting step; and

transmitting the second message from the second device to the first device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, by the first device, the second message transmitted by the second device; and

performing, by the first device, an operation in response to the second message transmitted by the second device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the extracted formatted data in a memory associated with the second device.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the communication protocol comprises:

determining the communication protocol from a plurality of protocols.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the communication protocol comprises:

determining the communication protocol from a plurality of protocols having different data formats.

7. A method according to claim 3, wherein the step of performing an operation comprises:

transmitting information within a memory of the first device to the second device.

8. A method according to claim 3, wherein the step of performing an operation comprises:

altering contents of a memory within the first device.

9. A method according to claim 3, wherein the step of performing an operation comprises:

performing an electrical-mechanical operation within the first device.

10. A method according to claim 3, wherein the step of performing an operation comprises:

performing an operation in the first device, wherein the first device is a facsimile machine.

11. A method according to claim 3, wherein the step of performing an operation comprises:

performing an operation in the first device, wherein the first device is a copier machine.

12. A method according to claim 3, wherein the step of performing an operation comprises:

performing an operation in the first device, wherein the first device is a printer.

13. A system for controlling remote devices, comprising:

a second device for controlling a first device, the second device including;

means for receiving a first message transmitted by the first device;

means for determining a type of the first device;

means for determining a communication protocol utilized by the first device based on the type of the first device and by looking up an identifier contained within the first message;

means for extracting formatted data from the first message based on the communication protocol utilized by the first device;

means for determining whether a customer support device should to be contacted based on the extracted formatted data; and

means for contacting the customer support device if the preceding means for determining determines that the customer support device should to be contacted.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the second device further comprises:

means for constructing a second message containing an instruction for controlling the first device based on results of the means for contacting; and

means for transmitting the second message from the second device to the first device.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the first device comprises:

means for receiving the second message transmitted by the second device; and

means for performing an operation in response to the second message transmitted by the first device.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the second device further comprises means for storing the extracted formatted data in a memory associated with the second device.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for determining the communication protocol comprises:

means for determining the communication protocol from a plurality of protocols.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for determining the communication protocol comprises:

means for determining the communication protocol from a plurality of protocols having different data formats.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for performing an operation comprises:

means for transmitting information within a memory of the first device to the second device.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for performing an operation comprises:

means for altering contents of a memory within the first device.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for performing an operation comprises:

means for performing an electrical-mechanical operation within the first device.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for performing an operation comprises:

means for performing an operation in the first device, wherein the first device is a facsimile machine.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for performing an operation comprises:

means for performing an operation in the first device, wherein the first device is a copier machine.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for performing an operation comprises:

means for performing an operation in the first device, wherein the first device is a printer.