System using internet electronic mail for communicating status of a monitored device to a monitoring device

• US 6,928,493 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2002
• Issued: 08/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US10/100,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20030145138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 710/15, 709/206, 709/224, 709/237, 709/238, 709/250, 382/179, 382/180, 714/4, 455/415, 358/434, 358/442, 379/93.06, 345/172, 399/8
• 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 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.

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

analyzing a first message received by the monitored device, the first message including a request for information of the monitored device.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein:

the analyzing step is performed by the monitored device.

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

parsing the first message; and

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

5. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting the first message using one of a telephone line and an ISDN line.

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

generating an electronic mail message that includes an identifier followed by an “

@”

symbol followed by a domain name.

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

generating the 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 transmitting step comprises:

transmitting the information as an Internet electronic mail message through a firewall of a network that includes the monitored device.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

registering address information of a server for receiving status information from the monitored device.

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

transmitting an electronic mail message through a Local Area Network (“

LAN”

) that includes the monitored device.

11. A system for communicating between a monitored device and a monitoring device, comprising:

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.

12. A system according to claim 11, further comprising:

means for analyzing a first message received by the monitored device, the first message including a request for information of the monitored device.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein:

the means for analyzing is a part of the monitored device.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein the means for analyzing includes:

means for parsing the first message; and

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

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

means for transmitting the first message using one of a telephone line or an ISDN line.

16. A system according to claim 11, further comprising:

means for generating an electronic mail message that includes an identifier followed by an “

@”

symbol followed by a domain name.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the means for generating the electronic mail message comprises:

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

18. A system according to claim 11, further comprising:

means for transmitting the information as an Internet electronic mail message through a firewall of a network that includes the monitored device.

19. A system according to claim 11, further comprising:

means for registering address information of a server for receiving status information from the monitored device.

20. A system according to claim 11, wherein the means for transmitting comprises:

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

LAN”

) that includes the monitored device.