System using internet electronic mail for communicating status of a monitored device to a monitoring device
First Claim
1. A method for communicating between a monitored device and a monitoring device, comprising:
- determining information to be transmitted by the monitored device to the monitoring device, the monitored device being from a group consisting of a printer, a facsimile machine, a facsimile server, a scanner, a copier, a metering system, and a vending machine, the information including a status of the monitored device determined using sensors within the monitored device; and
transmitting the information through electronic mail to the monitoring device from 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
20 Claims
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1. A method for communicating between a monitored device and a monitoring device, comprising:
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determining information to be transmitted by the monitored device to the monitoring device, the monitored device being from a group consisting of a printer, a facsimile machine, a facsimile server, a scanner, a copier, a metering system, and a vending machine, the information including a status of the monitored device determined using sensors within the monitored device; and
transmitting the information through electronic mail to the monitoring device from the monitored device using an Internet e-mail protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. 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 monitored device to the monitoring device, the monitored device being from a group consisting of a printer, a facsimile machine, a facsimile server, a scanner, a copier, a metering system, and a vending machine, the information including a status of the monitored device determined using sensors within the monitored device; and
means for transmitting the information through electronic mail to the monitoring device from the monitored device using an Internet e-mail protocol. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification