System using internet email for communicating status information from business office printing device when it is in normal operating condition

• US 6,473,812 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2001
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1995
• 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): Luu, Le Hien
• Application Number:
  US09/853,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20020046274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 710/15, 709/206, 709/224, 709/237, 709/228, 382/179, 714/4, 455/415
• US Class Current: 710/15
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5079 for maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00109 Remote control of apparatus, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/06 Generation of reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/065 related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• 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 1/00007 : relating to particular apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00029 : Diagnosis, i.e. identifying a problem by comparison with a normal state
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00079 : remotely
• 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 1/00281 : with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00312 : with a digital transmission apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, SMS or ISDN device transmitting or receiving via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network or the internet H04N1/00214; transmission of digital information H04L
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33323 : transmission mode only, e.g. speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/44 : Secrecy systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 : Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 : Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33342 : of transmission mode

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring, controlling and diagnosing operation of a machine such as a business office machine including a facsimile machine, a copier, and a printer. When the speed of communication between the remote device and machine is not urgent, a connectionless mode of communication may be used. The form of connectionless communication is an electronic mail message transmitted over the Internet. However, when a condition needs urgent action, a direct connection is used for communication such as communication via a telephone or ISDN line. The information obtained from the machine is stored in one or more data bases within a company and information of the machine is shared between a service department, engineering and design department, manufacturing department, and marketing department. As communication over the Internet via electronic mail is not secure, the connectionless-mode messages transmitted using Internet electronic mail are encrypted.

Claims

1. A method for using Internet electronic mail to manage a business office device automatically without human intervention, comprising the steps of:

monitoring a business office device by a business office device server;

generating a first Internet electronic mail message by the business office device server, the first Internet electronic mail message including a request for a status of the business office device determined using sensors within the business office device;

transmitting the first Internet electronic mail message to the business office device; and

generating a second Internet electronic mail message to report a status of the business office device and transmitting the second Internet electronic mail message to the business office device server in response to the request for a status of the first Internet electronic mail message, when the business office device is in a normal operating condition,

wherein the business office device comprises at least one of a printer, a copier, and a facsimile machine.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

analyzing the first Internet electronic mail message; and

performing a mechanical action by the business office device, in response to the analyzing step.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein:

the step of analyzing is performed by the business office device.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the analyzing step includes:

parsing the first Internet electronic mail message; and

determining an action which the first Internet electronic mail message requests to be taken.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

analyzing the first Internet electronic mail message by performing the steps of;

parsing the first Internet electronic mail message; and

determining an action which the first Internet electronic mail message requests to be taken.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating the first Internet electronic mail message comprises:

generating the first electronic mail message to include an identifier followed by an “

@”

symbol followed by a domain name.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the step of generating the first Internet electronic mail message comprises:

generating the first electronic mail message to include a description of an encoding type of the e-mail message.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the first Internet electronic mail message comprises:

transmitting the first Internet electronic mail message through a firewall of a network which includes the business office device.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting step comprises:

transmitting the first Internet electronic mail message without using a telephone line.

10. A method according claim 1, wherein the transmitting step comprises:

transmitting the first Internet electronic mail message through a Local Area Network (“

LAN”

) which includes the business office device.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the transmitting step comprises:

transmitting the first Internet electronic mail message without using a telephone line.

12. A system for using Internet electronic mail to manage a business office device automatically without human intervention, comprising:

means for monitoring a business office device by a business office device server;

means for generating a first Internet electronic mail message by the business office device server, the first Internet electronic mail message including a request for a status of the business office device determined using sensors within the business office device;

means for transmitting the first Internet electronic mail message to the business office device; and

means for generating a second Internet electronic mail message to report a status of the business office device and transmitting the second Internet electronic mail message to the business office device server in response to the request for a status of the first Internet electronic mail message, when the business office device is in a normal operating condition,

wherein the business office device comprises at least one of a printer, a copier, and a facsimile machine.

13. A system according to claim 12, further comprising:

means for analyzing the first Internet electronic mail message; and

means for performing a mechanical action by the business office device, in response an operation of the means for analyzing.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein:

the means for analyzing is a part of the business office device.

15. A system according to claim 13, wherein the means for analyzing includes:

means for parsing the first Internet electronic mail message; and

means for determining an action which the first Internet electronic mail message requests to be taken.

16. A system according to claim 12, further comprising:

means for analyzing the first Internet electronic mail message including;

means for parsing the first Internet electronic mail message; and

means for determining an action which the first Internet electronic mail message requests to be taken.

17. A system according to claim 12, wherein the means for generating the first Internet electronic mail message comprises:

means for generating the first electronic mail message to include an identifier followed by an “

@”

symbol followed by a domain name.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the means for generating the first Internet electronic mail message comprises:

means for generating the first electronic mail message to include a description of an encoding type of the e-mail message.

19. A system according to claim 12, wherein the means for transmitting the first Internet electronic mail message comprises:

means for transmitting the first Internet electronic mail message through a firewall of a network which includes the business office device.

20. A system according to claim 12, wherein the means for transmitting comprises:

means for transmitting the first Internet electronic mail message without using a telephone line.

21. A system according claim 12, wherein the means for transmitting comprises:

means for transmitting the first Internet electronic mail message through a Local Area Network (“

LAN”

) which includes the business office device.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein the means for transmitting comprises:

means for transmitting the first Internet electronic mail message without using a telephone line.