METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DIAGNOSIS AND CONTROL OF MACHINES USING CONNECTIONLESS MODES HAVING DELIVERY MONITORING AND AN ALTERNATE COMMUNICATION MODE

• US 20070201496A1
• Filed: 05/01/2007
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Americas Corporation (Ricoh Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Americas Corporation (Ricoh Company Limited)
• Inventors: MOTOYAMA, Tetsuro
• Granted Patent: US 7,421,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting

Abstract

A method and system for retransmitting messages using an alternate mode of communication when an original mode of communication is determined to be unsuccessful. A message is first transmitted using a connectionless-mode of communication such as by using an Internet electronic mail message. A request for acknowledgment of receipt of the message and/or individual operators within the message is requested. If the acknowledgment of receipt of the message is not received within an appropriate time determined based on an urgency level of the reply, the message is retransmitted using a more reliable mode of communication such as a connection-mode of operation which includes a direct telephone connection over a public telephone network using a modem, using an ISDN line, or a cable with a cable modem.

Claims

1. A method of controlling communications, comprising:

automatically generating, by a first monitored device, a first message;

automatically transmitting, from the first monitored device, the first message to a second monitoring device using a first mode of communication;

monitoring, by the first monitored device, whether the second monitoring device transmits, to the first monitored device, a response to the first message; and

transmitting, by the first monitored device, a second message to the second monitoring device using a second mode of communication when the step of monitoring determines that the first monitored device has not received a response to the first message from the second monitoring device,

wherein the first monitored device is one of a printer, a facsimile machine, a facsimile server, a scanner, a copier, a metering system, and a vending machine.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the second message comprises:

transmitting the second message as a connection-mode message to the second monitoring device.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein:

the step of transmitting the connection-mode message is performed when the first monitored device does not receive a response to the first message within a predetermined time period.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of:

determining the predetermined time period based on an urgency level of a requested reply.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the connection-mode message comprises:

transmitting the connection-mode message using telephone communication.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of transmitting the connection-mode message comprises:

transmitting the connection-mode message using the telephone communication without using an Internet connection.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of transmitting the connection-mode message comprises:

transmitting the connection-mode message using a cable.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the second message comprises:

displaying the second message on a display of the first monitored device.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of displaying the second message comprises:

displaying a message indicating that service for the first monitoring device is needed.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of displaying the second message comprises:

displaying a message that an acknowledgment of receipt of the first message has not been received.

11. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of:

processing contents of the first message before transmitting the second message.

12. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

analyzing contents of the first message; and

transmitting a reply indicating the status of an operator within the message from the second monitoring device to the first monitored device.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of transmitting a reply comprises:

transmitting one of an indication that the operator has not been received, has not yet begun executing, is in the process of executing, has finished executing, or has terminated executing abnormally.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the first message comprises:

transmitting the first message as a connectionless-mode message to the second monitoring device.

15. A system for controlling communications, comprising:

means for automatically generating, by a first monitored device, a first message;

means for automatically transmitting, from the first monitored device, the first message to a second monitoring device using a first mode of communication;

means for monitoring, by the first monitored device, whether the second monitoring device transmits, to the first monitored device, a response to the first message; and

means for transmitting, by the first monitored device, a second message to the second monitoring device using a second mode of communication when the means for monitoring determines that the first monitored device has not received a response to the first message from the second monitoring device,

wherein the first monitored device is one of a printer, a facsimile machine, a facsimile server, a scanner, a copier, a metering system, and a vending machine.