Method and apparatus for controlling and communicating with business office devices

• US 5,568,618 A
• Filed: 11/22/1995
• Issued: 10/22/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited, Ricoh Corporation (Ricoh Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited, Ricoh Corporation (Ricoh Company Limited)
• Inventors: Motoyama, Tetsuro
• Primary Examiner(s): AUVE, GLENN ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US08/562,192
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• Field of Search: 395/280, 395/281, 395/821, 355/203, 355/204, 355/205, 355/206, 358/442
• US Class Current: 710/100
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5016 User-machine interface; Display panels; Control console
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5079 for maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/55 Self-diagnostics; Malfunction or lifetime display
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00109 Remote control of apparatus, e.g. by a 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 11/3013 where the computing system is an embedded system, i.e. a combination of hardware and software dedicated to perform a certain function in mobile devices, printers, automotive or aircraft systems testing or monitoring of control systems or parts thereof G05B23/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3055 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the status of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring if the computing system is on, off, available, not available error or fault processing without redundancy G06F11/0703; error detection or correction by redundancy in data representation G06F11/08; error detection or correction by redundancy in operation G06F11/14; error detection or correction by redundancy in hardware G06F11/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3072 where the reporting involves data filtering, e.g. pattern matching, time or event triggered, adaptive or policy-based reporting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1293 Printer information exchange with computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00323 with a measuring, monitoring or signaling apparatus, e.g. for transmitting measured information to a central location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

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.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling and communicating with a business office device such as a facsimile, copier or printer, comprising:

a business device engine such as a facsimile, copier or printer for providing a facsimile document, a photocopy of a document, or a printed document, respectively, said business device engine including communication processor means;

an operation panel for controlling operation of said business device engine, said operation panel including communication processor means for communicating with said communication processor means of said business device engine;

means for storing static state data representing characteristics of said business device engine which do not change over the life of said business device engine, including at least one of a serial number and model characteristics;

means for storing semi-static state data which are infrequently changed over a life of said business device engine including at least one of a ROM version and an option configuration;

means for storing dynamic state data which change according to a mechanical state of the business device engine;

monitoring processor means for monitoring a state of said business device engine; and

system control processor means for controlling system activities of said business device engine, wherein said operation panel includes means for encoding control data in a format including type, length and value which is to be transmitted to the business device engine.

2. An apparatus for controlling and communicating with a business office device such as a facsimile, copier or printer, comprising:

a business device engine such as a facsimile, copier or printer for providing a facsimile document, a photocopy of a document, or a printed document, respectively, said business device engine including communication processor means;

an operation panel for controlling operation of said business device engine, said operation panel including communication processor means for communicating with said communication processor means of said business device engine;

means for storing static state data representing characteristics of said business device engine which do not change over the life of said business device engine, including at least one of a serial number and model characteristics;

means for storing semi-static state data which are infrequently changed over a life of said business device engine including at least one of a ROM version and an option configuration;

means for storing dynamic state data which change according to a mechanical state of the business device engine;

monitoring processor means for monitoring a state of said business device engine and outputting the state which has been monitored;

system control processor means for controlling system activities of said business device engine;

means for communicating the state of said business device engine received from said monitoring processor means; and

means for storing the state of said business device engine into said means for storing dynamic state data.

3. The apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said business device engine includes means for identifying itself through said communication processor means of said business device engine.

4. The apparatus as in claim 3, wherein the communication processor means of the business device engine includes means for exchanging commands and data between said business device engine, said operation panel and a remote diagnostic station.

5. The apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said system control processor means includes means for interpreting said commands.

6. The apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the business device engine includes means for executing said interpreted commands.

7. The apparatus as in claim 2, further including means for indicating when a communication line is established between said communication processor means of said business device engine and said system control processor means.