Method and system for communicating with a device attached to a computer using electronic mail messages
First Claim
1. A method of processing messages, comprising:
- receiving an electronic mail message by a computer;
determining, by the computer whether the content of the received message provides instruction codes to an attached printing device associated with the computer, by detecting a predetermined code in a body or a subject line of the message, wherein the instruction to the attached printing device relates to monitoring or control of the attached printing device, the attached printing device including a processor;
transmitting a communication including the instruction codes from the computer to the attached printing device through a device driver component of the computer without displaying the received message to a user, if the determining step detects the predetermined code indicating that the content of the received message provides the instruction codes to the attached printing device; and
operating the processor of the attached printing device in response to the transmitted communication.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method, system, and computer program product for communicating with machines connected to a network. Information sent to or from the machines is transmitted using electronic mail. The electronic mail may be transmitted over the Internet, but also may remain within a local or wide area network. When receiving electronic mail, the electronic mail message may be sent to a user who reads information regarding the purpose of the electronic mail message in the body of the message. When the user is satisfied that it is safe to perform the functions requested by the email, the user may execute a file which is attached to the incoming email message in order to perform the appropriate diagnostic or control operations. Alternatively, the incoming email message may contain a code or is sent to an address which causes automatic execution of the desired functions. In this embodiment, it may not be necessary for the user to manually perform any action in order to allow the appropriate processing to begin. Email messages may also be transmitted from the computer which is attached to the device which is being monitored or controlled and include information regarding the status or capabilities of the attached device.
82 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A method of processing messages, comprising:
-
receiving an electronic mail message by a computer;
determining, by the computer whether the content of the received message provides instruction codes to an attached printing device associated with the computer, by detecting a predetermined code in a body or a subject line of the message, wherein the instruction to the attached printing device relates to monitoring or control of the attached printing device, the attached printing device including a processor;transmitting a communication including the instruction codes from the computer to the attached printing device through a device driver component of the computer without displaying the received message to a user, if the determining step detects the predetermined code indicating that the content of the received message provides the instruction codes to the attached printing device; and operating the processor of the attached printing device in response to the transmitted communication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A system for processing messages, comprising:
-
means, associated with a computer, for receiving an electronic mail message; means for determining, by the computer whether the content of the received message provides instruction codes to an attached printing device associated with the computer, by detecting a predetermined code in a body or a subject line of the message, wherein the instruction to the attached printing device relates to monitoring or control of the attached printing device, the attached printing device including a processor; means for transmitting a communication including the instruction codes from the computer to the attached printing device through a device driver component of the computer without displaying the received message to a user, if the means for determining detects the predetermined code indicating that the content of the received message provides the instruction codes to the attached printing device; and means for operating the processor of the attached printing device in response to the transmitted communication. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
Specification