Method and system for diagnosis and control of machines using connection and connectionless modes of communication
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1-27. -27. (canceled)
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28. A method of managing metering information within an organization, comprising:
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transmitting, over the Internet, the metering information from a metering device, the metering information including at least a serial number of the metering device;
receiving the transmitted metering information;
storing the received metering information in a database; and
sharing the stored metering information in the database among a plurality of departments within the organization. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for managing metering information within an organization, comprising:
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means for transmitting, over the Internet, the metering information from a metering device, the metering information including at least a serial number of the metering device;
means for receiving the transmitted metering information;
means for storing the received metering information in a database; and
means for sharing the stored metering information in the database among a plurality of departments within the organization. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A computer-readable medium incorporating a computer program product for managing metering information within an organization, the computer program product comprising:
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instructions for transmitting, over the Internet, the metering information from a metering device, the metering information including at least a serial number of the metering device;
instructions for receiving the transmitted metering information;
instructions for storing the received metering information in a database; and
instructions for sharing the stored metering information in the database among a plurality of departments within the organization. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification