Automated remote device meter reading
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An automated equipment usage reporting system, comprising:
- a usage meter associated with remote equipment; and
communications hardware associated with said remote equipment and adapted to communicate through a network with a service provider server, log into the service provider server, identify the remote equipment to the server and transmit usage meter data to the server.
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Accused Products
Abstract
System meter reads can be sent automatically from a document rendering device to a remote server over a communications system without customer intervention. Network-based systems are enabled to automatically collect and report usage information from equipment to remote servers. Usage information is used for billing and/or maintenance purposes.
40 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An automated equipment usage reporting system, comprising:
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a usage meter associated with remote equipment; and
communications hardware associated with said remote equipment and adapted to communicate through a network with a service provider server, log into the service provider server, identify the remote equipment to the server and transmit usage meter data to the server. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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- 2. The system of claim 2 wherein the remote equipment is adapted to that it can identify itself to the server by periodically polling the service provider server.
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14. An automated equipment usage reporting system, comprising:
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a server adapted to accept remote equipment log ins, register remote equipment, identify remote equipment, and receive usage meter information from remote equipment; and
a billing system adapted to receive usage meter information for remote equipment from the server and process the usage meter information for at least one of billing and/or service scheduling. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for providing usage meter information over a network from equipment to a server and associated billing system, comprising the steps of:
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providing the equipment including a usage meter with access to a communications network;
enabling the equipment to log into a server over the communications network and identify itself to the server; and
said equipment providing usage information recorded by a usage meter to the server. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification