Communication device and method for controlling communication device

• US 7,318,084 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Original Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Inventors: Tanimoto, Yoshifumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaroenchonwanit; Bunjob
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Van Kim T.
• Application Number:
  US10/325,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20030126219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/026 using e-messaging for transporting management information, e.g. email, instant messaging or chat
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• 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

Abstract

A communication device includes a communication unit that can transmit and receive an electronic mail message via a network. The communication device also includes a control unit forming a device setting form-data described as a structured document, transmitting the formed device setting form-data as an electronic mail message from the communication unit, and updating device setting by a device setting data received as the electronic mail message by the communication unit.

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising:

means for transmitting and receiving an electronic mail message and HTTP request via a network;

means for determining whether a demand for a device setting form-data has been received as the electronic mail message or the HTTP request;

means for forming a device setting form-data described as a structured document containing device settings of the communication device to be remotely updated by a recipient,

wherein the formed device setting form-data is configured to cause display on a recipient terminal of a plurality of entry fields for input of updated device settings, and containing means for the recipient to automatically return the structured document with the updated device settings input by the recipient into the entry fields to the communication device, transmitting the formed device setting form-data in accordance with the received electronic mail message or HTTP request from the means for transmitting and receiving, and updating the device settings of the communication device according to a responsive electronic mail message received by the means for transmitting and receiving and including the structured document containing the updated device settings input by the recipient; and

means for embedding a present device setting data when forming the device setting form-data, the formed present device setting data being configured to cause display of the embedded present device setting data in the plurality of entry fields on the recipient terminal.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the means for forming designates an electronic mail address of a return destination in a device setting form-data to be transmitted.

3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the means for forming transmits the device setting form-data in accordance with a reception of an electronic mail message demanding a transmission of the device setting form-data.

4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the means for forming transmits the device setting form-data, after receiving an electronic mail message demanding a transmission of the device setting form-data, and carrying out an authentication.

5. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a means for carrying out an indication to the communication device, wherein the means for forming transmits the device setting form-data in accordance with an indication from the means for carrying out an indication.

6. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the means for forming carries out an authentication when updating the device setting by the device setting data.

7. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the means for forming returns an update result as an electronic mail message by the means for transmitting and receiving after updating the device setting.

8. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the structured document is in the HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language).

9. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the structured document is in the XML (eXtensible Markup Language).

10. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the means for the recipient to automatically return the structured document comprises a set button displayed on the recipient terminal that causes the structured document to be electronically mailed to the communication device.

11. A method for controlling a communication device, comprising:

receiving a demand for a device setting form-data as an electronic mail message or an HTTP request;

forming a device setting form-data described as a structured document containing device settings of the communication device to be remotely updated by a recipient, wherein the formed device setting form-data is configured to cause display on a recipient terminal of a plurality of entry fields for input of updated device settings, and containing means for the recipient to automatically return the structured document with the updated device settings input by the recipient into the entry fields to the communication device;

embedding a present device setting data when forming the device setting form-data, the formed present device setting data being configured to cause display of the embedded present device setting data in the plurality of entry fields on the recipient terminal;

transmitting the formed device setting form-data in accordance with the received electronic mail message or HTTP request;

receiving a responsive electronic mail message including the structured document containing updated device settings input by the recipient; and

updating the device settings of the communication device according to the updated device settings.

12. The method for controlling the communication device according to claim 11, further comprising designating an electronic mail message of a return designating in the device setting from—

data to be transmitted.

13. The method for controlling the communication device according to claim 11, further comprising transmitting the device setting form-data in accordance with a reception of an electronic mail message demanding a transmission of the device setting form-data.

14. The method for controlling the communication device according to claim 11, further comprising transmitting the device setting form-data after receiving an electronic mail message demanding a transmission of the device setting form-data, and carrying out an authentication.

15. The method for controlling the communication device according to claim 11, further comprising:

receiving an indication from an operation unit, and

transmitting the device setting form-data in accordance with the indication.

16. The method for controlling the communication device according to claim 11, further comprising carrying out the authentication when updating the device setting by the device setting data.

17. The method for controlling the communication device according to claim 11, further comprising returning an update result as an electronic mail message after updating the device setting.

18. The method for controlling the communication device according to claim 11, further comprising providing the structured document in the HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language).

19. The method for controlling the communication device according to claim 11, further comprising providing the structured document in the XML (eXtensible Markup Language).

20. The method for controlling the communication device according to claim 11, wherein the means for the recipient to automatically return the structured document comprises a set button displayed on the recipient terminal that causes the structured document to be electronically mailed to the communication device.