System for remote diagnosis of image forming apparatuses, including intelligent communications control for data therefrom

• US 5,512,979 A
• Filed: 07/25/1994
• Issued: 04/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Ogura, Masaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendergrass, Joan H.
• Application Number:
  US08/280,921
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 355/204, 355/206, 355/202, 355/207, 364/138, 379/106
• US Class Current: 399/8
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5079 for maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/55 Self-diagnostics; Malfunction or lifetime display
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00113 Plurality of apparatus configured in groups each with its own host
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0733 in a data processing system embedded in an image processing device, e.g. printer, facsimile, scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0748 in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault remote testing G06F11/2294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/349 for interfaces, buses
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C

Abstract

A remote diagnosis apparatus comprising communication control units which store particular data sent from a plurality of copying machines and execute communication control for the data and a controller which is connected via a public line network to the communication control units and into which data stored in the communication control units is inputted to be stored therein, the communication control units comprising a counter counting times of recalling, and a control means for sending a call again in a state where particular data can not be transmitted and setting a particular value in the counter when new data to be transmitted is received while waiting for an opportunity to send a call again.

Claims

1. A remote diagnosis apparatus for providing centralized control over data, the apparatus comprising:

a) a communication line for carrying the data;

b) an image forming apparatus;

c) a communication controller connected to said image forming apparatus, for storing particular data sent from said image forming apparatus and for executing communication control for the particular data, said communication controller including;

1) a counter for counting times of recalling; and

2) a controller for sending a call again when the particular data can not be transmitted, and for setting said counter to a particular counting number when said controller receives new data to be transmitted while waiting for an opportunity for sending a call again; and

d) a data controller, connected via said communication line to said communication controller, for inputting and controlling data stored in said communication controller.

2. A remote diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said communication line is a public line network.

3. A remote diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said state where particular data can not be transmitted is a state where other communication controller is occupying said communication line.

4. A remote diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said state where particular data can not be transmitted is a state where said particular data includes any data error.

5. A remote diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said state where particular data can not be transmitted is a state where communication equipment connected to said communication controller preferentially uses said communication line.

6. A remote diagnosis apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said communication equipment is a telephone device or a facsimile machine.

7. A remote diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said counter further comprising:

a first counter for setting times of recalling by said controller; and

a second counter for counting times of executed recall;

whereby said counter sets times of recalling by removing a counting number provided by said first counter to said second counter when new data to be transmitted is received.

8. A remote diagnosis apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said second counter is an adding counter and is reset when new data to be transmitted is received.

9. A remote diagnosis apparatus for providing centralized control over data, the apparatus comprising:

a) a communication line for carrying the data;

b) an image forming apparatus;

c) a communication controller connected to said image forming apparatus, for executing communication control for particular data sent from said image forming apparatus;

1) a counter for counting times of recalling; and

2) a controller for sending a call again when the particular data can not be transmitted, and for setting said counter to a particular counting number when said controller receives new data to be transmitted while waiting for an opportunity for sending a call again; and

d) a data controller, connected via said communication line to said communication controller, for inputting and controlling data stored in said image forming apparatus.

10. A remote diagnosis apparatus according to claim 9, wherein:

said communication line is a public line network.

11. A communication controller used for a remote diagnosis apparatus which provides centralized control via a communication line over data concerning an image forming apparatus, the communication controller being connected to said image forming apparatus and providing control for data communications from said image forming apparatus over the communication line, the communication controller comprising:

a counter for counting times of recalling; and

a controller for sending a call again when the particular data cannot be transmitted, and for setting said counter to a particular counting number when said controller receives new data to be transmitted while waiting for an opportunity to send a call again.