Method and apparatus for controlling and communicating with business office devices
First Claim
1. A method for controlling communication of data between an office device and a remote terminal through a communication line, wherein first data is defined to be data generated within said office device and second data is defined to be data generated within said remote terminal, said method comprising the steps of:
- communicating said first data from said office device to said remote terminal, said communicating step including;
generating said first data at said office device,transmitting said first data from a communication interface of said office device to a communication interface of said remote terminal through said communication line,processing said first data by the remote terminal; and
communicating said second data from said remote terminal to said office device by performing the steps of;
generating said second data at the remote terminal,transmitting said second data from a communication interface of said remote terminal to said office device communication interface through said communication line,processing said second data by said office device and controlling said office device in response to the processing by the office device,said method further comprising the step of storing static data representing characteristics of said office device which do not change over a life of said office device;
wherein the step of transmitting said first data also transmits the static data to the remote terminal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling and communicating with business office devices, such as copiers, facsimiles and/or printers. The present invention communicates and controls various modules of business devices which allow an external device such as an operation panel to access the state of a target device, such as a copier, printer or facsimile. The operation panel can communicate with the target device and control the same target device. Also, a remote diagnostics station can provide remote diagnostics of the target device.
172 Citations
69 Claims
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1. A method for controlling communication of data between an office device and a remote terminal through a communication line, wherein first data is defined to be data generated within said office device and second data is defined to be data generated within said remote terminal, said method comprising the steps of:
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communicating said first data from said office device to said remote terminal, said communicating step including; generating said first data at said office device, transmitting said first data from a communication interface of said office device to a communication interface of said remote terminal through said communication line, processing said first data by the remote terminal; and communicating said second data from said remote terminal to said office device by performing the steps of; generating said second data at the remote terminal, transmitting said second data from a communication interface of said remote terminal to said office device communication interface through said communication line, processing said second data by said office device and controlling said office device in response to the processing by the office device, said method further comprising the step of storing static data representing characteristics of said office device which do not change over a life of said office device; wherein the step of transmitting said first data also transmits the static data to the remote terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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5. A method for controlling communication of data between an office device and a remote terminal through a communication line, wherein first data is defined to be data generated within said office device and second data is defined to be data generated within said remote terminal, said method comprising the steps of:
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communicating said first data from said office device to said remote terminal, said communicating step including; generating said first data at said office device, transmitting said first data from a communication interface of said office device to a communication interface of said remote terminal through said communication line, processing said first data by the remote terminal; and communicating said second data from said remote terminal to said office device by performing the steps of; generating said second data at the remote terminal, transmitting said second data from a communication interface of said remote terminal to said office device communication interface through said communication line, processing said second data by said office device and controlling said office device in response to the processing by the office device, said method further comprising the step of storing semi-static data representing characteristics of said office device which infrequently change over a life of said office device; wherein the step of transmitting said first data also transmits the semi-static data to the remote terminal. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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50. A method of communication between a business office machine system connected to a first end of a communication line and a remote terminal connected to a second end of said communication line, comprising the steps of:
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generating, by the business office machine system, data including a source identification of said data, storing said data in a memory; processing said data and controlling said business office machine system in response to the processing of said data; and transmitting said processed data through an interface to said first end of said communication line; receiving said data by the remote terminal connected to said second end of said communication line; transmitting said received data through an interface to a processor of the remote terminal; processing said data received through the interface by the processor of the remote terminal, said method further comprising the step of; sending a command from the remote terminal to the business office machine system over the communication line which initiates a diagnostic operation in the business office machine system; wherein said step of transmitting said processed data is performed after the sending of the command which initiates the diagnostic operation in the business office machine system. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55)
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51. A method of communication between a business office machine system connected to a first end of a communication line and a remote terminal connected to a second end of said communication line, comprising the steps of:
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generating, by the business office machine system, data including a source identification of said data, storing said data in a memory; processing said data and controlling said business office machine system in response to the processing of said data; and transmitting said processed data through an interface to said first end of said communication line; receiving said data by the remote terminal connected to said second end of said communication line; transmitting said received data through an interface to a processor of the remote terminal; processing said data received through the interface by the processor of the remote terminal, said method further comprising the step of; sending a command from the remote terminal to the business office machine system over the communication line which initiates a diagnostic operation in the business office machine system. - View Dependent Claims (56)
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57. A system, comprising:
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an office machine system communicating with a first end of a communication line, said office machine system including; a state data generator; a memory, coupled to said state data generator, which stores the state data generated by the state data generator; a processor, coupled to said memory, which processes the state data and controls said office machine system in response to said processing, and a communication interface having an output coupled to said first end of said communication line and an input coupled to said processor through which said state data is transmitted to said first end of the communication line; and a diagnostic processor, connected to a second end of said communication line, which processes said state data received from said office machine system to diagnose an operation of the office machine system and to communicate interactively with the office machine system wherein; said diagnostic processor includes means for sending a command from the diagnostic processor to the office machine system over the communication line which initiates a diagnostic operation in the office machine system; and data is transmitted from the office machine system to the diagnostic processor over the communication line after the diagnostic operation is initiated. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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58. A system, comprising:
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an office machine system communicating with a first end of a communication line, said office machine system including; a state data generator; a memory, coupled to said state data generator, which stores the state data generated by the state data generator; a processor, coupled to said memory, which processes the state data and controls said office machine system in response to said processing, and a communication interface having an output coupled to said first end of said communication line and an input coupled to said processor through which said state data is transmitted to said first end of the communication line; and a diagnostic processor, connected to a second end of said communication line, which processes said state data received from said office machine system to diagnose an operation of the office machine system and to communicate interactively with the office machine system, wherein; said diagnostic processor includes means for sending a command from the diagnostic processor to the office machine system over the communication line which initiates a diagnostic operation in the office machine system.
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Specification