System uses internet electronic mail for requesting status of a monitored device from a monitoring device
First Claim
1. A method for communicating between a monitored device and a monitoring device, comprising the steps of:
- determining information to be transmitted by the monitoring device to the monitored device, the monitored device being selected from the group consisting of a printer, a scanner, a copier, a metering system, and a vending machine, the information including a request for a status of the monitored device determined using sensors within the monitored device; and
transmitting the information through electronic mail from the monitoring device to the monitored device using an Internet e-mail protocol.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. A method for communicating between a monitored device and a monitoring device, comprising the steps of:
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determining information to be transmitted by the monitoring device to the monitored device, the monitored device being selected from the group consisting of a printer, a scanner, a copier, a metering system, and a vending machine, the information including a request for a status of the monitored device determined using sensors within the monitored device; and
transmitting the information through electronic mail from the monitoring device to the monitored device using an Internet e-mail protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for communicating between a machine and a monitoring device, comprising the steps of:
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determining status information using at least one of a mechanical and electrical sensor; and
transmitting an electronic mail message using an Internet e-mail protocol from the machine to the monitoring device containing the status information, the machine being selected from the group consisting of a printer, a scanner, a copier, a metering system, and a vending machine. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system for communicating between a monitored device and a monitoring device, comprising:
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means for determining information to be transmitted by the monitoring device to the monitored device, the monitored device, being selected from the group consisting of a printer, a facsimile server, a scanner, a copier, a metering system, and a vending machine, the information including a request for a status of the monitored device determined using sensors within the monitored device; and
a transmitter of the monitoring device which transmits the information through electronic mail from the monitoring device to the monitored device using an Internet e-mail protocol. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A system for communicating between a machine and a monitoring device, comprising:
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sensors within the machine which sense status information to be transmitted to the monitoring device, the machine being selected from the group consisting of a printer, a scanner, a copier, a metering system, and a vending machine; and
a transmitter of the machine which transmits the status information using an electronic mail message from the machine to the monitoring device using an Internet e-mail protocol. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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Specification