MOBILE REMOTE DEVICE MANAGEMENT

• US 20090287767A1
• Filed: 05/19/2008
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Pothos, Kirk, Kammerdiener, Shawn
• Granted Patent: US 7,970,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5075 Remote control machines, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00109 Remote control of apparatus, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5061 characterised by the interaction between service providers and their network customers, e.g. customer relationship management
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0018 via a non-image communication channel, e.g. via a computer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network

Abstract

When an electronic message is received from a requester a mail relay server decodes the command electronic message to produce and issue a command to a service manager server. The command from the service manager server is directed to a device manager server responsible for managing the target printing device. The device manager server formats the command to be compatible with the target printing device to produce and issue an instruction to the target printing device. The target printing device then executes the instruction. If the command includes a request for the reply, the process of executing the instruction includes producing, by the target printing device, the reply and issuing the reply to the device manager server. The device manager server collects the reply if it is in many packets and transmits the reply to the service manager server. Once the reply is transmitted, the service manager server directs the reply to the mail relay server. After the reply is directed to the mail relay server the mail relay server encodes the reply to produce and issue a reply electronic message to the requester.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a command electronic message from a requestor comprising information necessary to instruct a mail relay server regarding what operation is to be performed, a target printing device, and any reply expected;

decoding, using said mail relay server, said command electronic message to produce and issue a command to a service manager server;

checking, by said service manager server, an appropriateness of said command;

directing said command from said service manager server to a device manager server responsible for managing said target printing device,

formatting, using said device manager server, said command to be compatible with said target printing device to produce and issue an instruction to said target printing device; and

executing, using said target printing device, said instruction.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said command comprises one of an action instruction and a data request.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said executing of said instruction comprises at least one of running a reboot sequence, running a diagnostic sequence, and running an internal parameter update sequence.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said command electronic message comprises a message processed through one of an e-mail messaging system, an instant messaging system, and a text messaging system.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said mail relay server, said service manager server, and said target printing device perform said method in a fully automated process that is based solely on said command electronic message and is performed without additional input from users.

6. A method comprising:

receiving a command electronic message from a requestor comprising information necessary to instruct a mail relay server regarding what operation is to be performed, a target printing device, and any reply expected;

decoding, using said mail relay server, said command electronic message to produce and issue a command to a service manager server;

checking, by said service manager server, an appropriateness of said command;

directing said command from said service manager server to a device manager server responsible for managing said target printing device,

formatting, using said device manager server, said command to be compatible with said target printing device to produce and issue an instruction to said target printing device;

executing, using said target printing device, said instruction;

checking, by said service manager server, an appropriateness of said reply;

if said command includes a request for said reply, said executing of said instruction includes producing, by said target printing device, said reply and issuing said reply to said device manager server;

if said reply is produced, collecting, using said device manager server, said reply and transmitting said reply to said service manager server;

if said reply is transmitted, directing said reply from said service manager server to said mail relay server; and

if said reply is directed to said mail relay server, encoding, using said mail relay server, said reply to produce and issue a reply electronic message to said requestor.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said command comprises one of an action instruction and a data request.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein said executing of said instruction comprises at least one of running a reboot sequence, running a diagnostic sequence, and running an internal parameter update sequence.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein said reply comprises one of data and a confirmation that said command was executed.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein said mail relay server, said service manager server, and said target printing device perform said method in a fully automated process that is based solely on said command electronic message and is performed without additional input from users.

11. A system comprising:

at least one mail relay server that receives a command electronic message from a requester comprising what operation is to be performed, a target printing device, and any reply expected, wherein said mail relay server decodes said command electronic message to produce and issue a command;

at least one service manager server, operatively connected to said mail relay server, that receives said command from said mail relay server; and

at least one device manager server, operatively connected to said service manager server,

wherein said service manager server checks an appropriateness of said command,

wherein said service manager server identifies a selected device manager server from said at least one device manager server that is responsible for managing said target printing device and transmits said command to said selected device manager server,

wherein said selected device manager server formats said command to be compatible with said target printing device to produce and issue an instruction to said target printing device, and

wherein said target printing device executes said instruction.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said command comprises one of an action instruction and a data request.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said instruction requires said target printing device to at least one of run a reboot sequence, run a diagnostic sequence, and run an internal parameter update sequence.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said command electronic message comprises a message processed through one of an e-mail messaging system, an instant messaging system, and a text messaging system.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein said mail relay server, said service manager server, and said target printing device perform actions in a fully automated process that is based solely on said command electronic message and is performed without additional input from users.

16. A system comprising:

at least one mail relay server that receives a command electronic message from a requester comprising what operation is to be performed, a target printing device, and any reply expected, wherein said mail relay server decodes said command electronic message to produce and issue a command;

at least one service manager server, operatively connected to said mail relay server, that receives said command from said mail relay server; and

at least one device manager server, operatively connected to said service manager server,

wherein said service manager server checks an appropriateness of said command,

wherein said service manager server identifies a selected device manager server from said at least one device manager server that is responsible for managing said target printing device and transmits said command to said selected device manager server,

wherein said selected device manager server formats said command to be compatible with said target printing device to produce and issue an instruction to said target printing device,

wherein said target printing device executes said instruction,

wherein, if said command includes a request for said reply, said target printing device, when executing said instruction, produces said reply and issues said reply to said device manager server,

wherein, if said reply is produced by said target printing device, said device manager server collects said reply and transmits said reply to said service manager server,

wherein said service manager server checks on appropriateness of said reply

wherein, if said reply is transmitted to said service manager server, said service manager server directs said reply to said mail relay server, and

wherein, if said reply is directed to said mail relay server, said mail relay server encodes said reply to produce and issue a reply electronic message to said requester.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said command comprises one of an action instruction and a data request.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein said instruction requires said target printing device to at least one of run a reboot sequence, run a diagnostic sequence, and run an internal parameter update sequence.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein said reply comprises one of data and a confirmation that said command was executed.

20. The system according to claim 16, wherein said mail relay server, said service manager server, and said target printing device perform actions in a fully automated process that is based solely on said command electronic message and is performed without additional input from users.