Multipurpose remote office machine management system

• US 5,673,190 A
• Filed: 03/22/1995
• Issued: 09/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Atrix International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Atrix International, Inc.
• Inventors: Kahleck, Curtis O., Riedel, Steven D., Correll, Thomas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Paul P.
• Application Number:
  US08/408,563
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 364/131, 364/132, 364/138, 364/143, 364/145, 364/146, 364/188, 395/200.09, 355/203, 355/204, 355/205, 355/206, 358/442, 340/825.06, 340/825.16
• US Class Current: 700/2
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5075 Remote control machines, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/55 Self-diagnostics; Malfunction or lifetime display
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00548 Jam, error detection, e.g. double feeding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00002 Diagnosis, testing or measuring; Detecting, analysing or monitoring not otherwise provided for error detection, error correction or monitoring in digital computers or digital computer components G06F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00042 Monitoring, i.e. observation H04N1/00029 - H04N1/00039 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0005 in service, i.e. during normal operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00058 using a separate apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00079 remotely
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus H04N2201/0013; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015

Abstract

A multipurpose remote office machine management system for use with photocopy machines, fax machines, document scanners and printers, for example, provides stand alone, remote or cabled monitoring and control of selected office machines at predetermined times and dates via multiple modes of communication, including, but not limited to shared or dedicated telephone lines as well as radio frequency communication. The system monitors and reports designated information to an operator, including for example, number of copies produced, number of attempts by unauthorized individuals to access the office machine, number of primary and secondary copies produced, number of black and white and color copies produced, number of paper jams, and alarm signals. The management system is programmed locally or via a central management unit or host computer to control operational modes for the selected office machine(s) including machine access.

Claims

1. A externally attached multi-purpose remote office machine management system device for reporting usage signals concerning the office machine being monitored, said device comprising:

a microprocessor including memory operatively associated therewith;

receiving means coupled to said microprocessor for receiving at least one signal indicative of at least one office machine usage condition to be reported, each said at least one usage condition signal being generated by any one of contact closure and pulse level change thereof, wherein said receiving means is adapted to solely receive usage condition signals which are distinct and isolated from internally generated office machine diagnostic signals and office machine data signals;

a calendar clock coupled to said microprocessor for supplying time signals indicative of date and time of day thereto;

a signal generator coupled to said microprocessor for generating signals at a predetermined time for initiating a call to a host computer and for transmitting data thereto corresponding to said signals indicative of said office machine usage conditions to be reported; and

a controller coupled to said microprocessor for altering a mode of operation for said office machine via commands from said host computer.

2. The device according to claim 1 further including a serial interface means adapted for transferring said data to said host computer.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein said receiving means includes a serial interface means.

4. The device according to claim 1 further including a radio frequency interface means adapted for transferring said data to said host computer.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein said receiving means includes a radio frequency interface means.

6. The device according to claim 1 further including a shared telephone line interface means adapted for transferring said data to said host computer.

7. The device according to claim 1 further including a dedicated telephone line interface means adapted for transferring said data to said host computer.

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein said means for receiving signals includes means adapted for receiving signals indicative of a number of copies produced by at least one photocopy machine.

9. The device according to claim 8 further comprising means adapted to preestablish limits associated with at least one individual user to control access to said at least one photocopy machine when said limits are reached.

10. The device according to claim 8 further comprising means adapted to preestablish limits associated with at least one group of individuals to control access to said at least one photocopy machine when said limits are reached.

11. The device according to claim 1 wherein said means for receiving signals includes means adapted for receiving signals from said host computer to enable and disable at least one photocopy machine.

12. The device according to claim 1 wherein said means for receiving signals includes means adapted for receiving signals indicative of attempts by unauthorized individuals to access at least one photocopy machine.

13. The device according to claim 1 wherein said means for receiving signals includes means adapted for receiving signals indicative of a number of primary and secondary copies produced by at least one duplicator.

14. The device according to claim 1 wherein said means for receiving signals includes means adapted for receiving signals indicative of a number of black and white and color copies produced by at least one photocopy machine.

15. The device according to claim 1 wherein said means for receiving signals includes means adapted for receiving signals indicative of a number of paper jams for at least one photocopy machine.

16. The device according to any one of claims 2, 3, 4 and 5 further comprising means coupled to said microprocessor for on-site entry of service data, wherein said service data is conveyed to said host computer via said interface means.

17. The device according to claim 1 further comprising means coupled to said microprocessor for providing access control to at least one office machine.

18. The device according to claim 1 wherein said means for receiving signals includes means adapted for receiving alarm signals indicative of an emergency condition to be reported, and wherein said means adapted for receiving alarm signals is operable when an alarm signal is received for initiating a call to said host computer.

19. The device according to claim 1 wherein said means for generating signals comprises a tone generator.

20. The device according to claim 1 wherein said means for generating signals comprises a pulse train generator.

21. The device according to claim 1 further comprising means coupled to said microprocessor for receiving and testing receipt of an acknowledgment signal from said host computer prior to transmitting said data.

22. The device according to claim 1 wherein said means for receiving signals comprises a plurality of optically isolated signal input devices.

23. The device according to claim 1 wherein said microprocessor includes means for transmitting signals to said host computer, wherein said signals are indicative of a location of a photocopy machine coupled to said device.

24. The device according to claim 1 wherein said transmitting means is adapted to communicate with said host computer via a shared telephone line.

25. The device according to claim 1 wherein said transmitting means is adapted to communicate with said host computer via a dedicated telephone line.

26. The device according to claim 16 wherein said data entry means comprises keypad means coupled to said microprocessor for data entry thereto, and wherein said system further includes means for initiating a call to said host computer for establishing communication between said keypad and said host computer.

27. The device according to claim 16 wherein said means for on-site entry of service data, includes means adapted for entry of data indicative of service requests and service activity, and wherein said means for initiating calls at a predetermined time to said host computer for each said at least one office machine is adapted for conveying said data indicative of service requests and service activity via said transmitting means.

28. The device according to any one of claims 9, 10 and 17 wherein said means for access control, includes means adapted for on-site entry of alphanumeric data.

29. The device according to claim 28 wherein said means for on-site entry of alphanumeric data, includes means adapted for entry of a user identification code.

30. The device according to claim 29 wherein said means adapted for entry of a user identification code includes a keypad means coupled to said microprocessor for data entry thereto, and wherein said means for initiating a call to said host computer is adapted for establishing communication between said keypad means and said host computer.

31. The device according to any one of claims 9, 10 and 17 wherein said means for access control, includes means adapted for on-site entry of numeric data.

32. The device according to claim 29 wherein said means for on-site entry of numeric data, includes means adapted for entry of a user identification code.

33. The device according to claim 32 wherein said means for entry of a user identification code includes a keypad means coupled to said microprocessor for data entry thereto, and wherein said means for initiating a call to said host computer is adapted for establishing communication between said keypad means and said host computer.

34. A system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of office machines via externally attached office machine devices, comprising:

a plurality of externally attached office machine usage control and monitoring devices of the type having at least one microprocessor including memory operatively associated therewith, said externally attached devices comprising;

means coupled to said at least one microprocessor for receiving signals indicative of at least one usage condition to be reported, wherein said receiving means is adapted to solely receive usage condition signals which are distinct and isolated from internally generated office machine diagnostic signals and office machine data signals;

calendar clock means coupled to said at least one microprocessor for supplying time signals indicative of date and time of day thereto;

means coupled to said at least one microprocessor for generating signals at a predetermined time for initiating a call to a host computer and for transmitting data thereto corresponding to said signals indicative of said at least one usage condition to be reported; and

means coupled to said at least one microprocessor for altering a mode of operation for at least one office machine within said plurality of office machines within said system via commands from said host computer.

35. The system according to claim 34 wherein said receiving means includes at least one serial communication interface means.

36. The system according to claim 34 wherein said receiving means includes a radio frequency communication interface means.

37. The system according to claim 34 wherein said communication network includes at least one shared telephone line.

38. The system according to claim 34 wherein said communication network includes at least one dedicated telephone line.

39. The system according to claim 34 wherein said communication network includes at least one serial communication interface means.

40. The system according to claim 34 wherein said communication network includes a radio frequency communication interface means.

41. The system according to claim 34 further comprising means coupled to each device within said plurality of devices for on-site entry of service data, wherein said service data is conveyed to said host computer via said communication network.

42. The system according to claim 34 further comprising means coupled to each device within said plurality of devices for providing access control to each office machine within said plurality of office machines.

43. The system according to claim 34 wherein at least one office machine within said plurality of office machines is a photocopy machine.

44. The system according to claim 34 wherein at least one office machine within said plurality of office machines is a fax machine.

45. The system according to claim 34 wherein at least one office machine within said plurality of office machines is a printer.

46. The system according to claim 34 wherein at least one office machine within said plurality of office machines is a document scanner.

47. The system according to claim 34 wherein at least one office machine within said plurality of office machines is a personal computer.