System using internet application for monitoring metering device and sharing metering information among departments

• US 7,447,809 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2005
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Americas 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:
  US11/293,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20060168085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 710/15, 710/16, 710/9, 709/206, 709/224, 709/250, 709/249, 358/1.15, 380/30, 400/88, 714/27, 700/241
• 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 of managing metering information within an organization, comprising:

transmitting, using an Internet application-layer protocol, the metering information from a metering device automatically without receiving a request for the metering information, the metering information including at least a unique identifier of the metering device;

receiving, by a remote computer via a firewall, the transmitted metering information;

storing, by the remote computer, the received metering information into a database; and

sharing the stored metering information in the database among a plurality of departments within the organization.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier is a serial number and the storing step comprises:

storing the received metering information in the database in association with the serial number of the metering device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the metering device is one of a gas meter, a water meter, and an electricity meter.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

linking the database to other metering databases within the organization, wherein the other metering databases include at least a metering history database.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the unique identifier is a serial number and the linking step comprises linking the database and the other metering databases using the serial number of the metering device.

6. A system for managing metering information within an organization, comprising:

means for transmitting, using an Internet application-layer protocol, the metering information from a metering device automatically without receiving a request for the metering information, the metering information including at least a unique identifier of the metering device;

means for receiving, by a remote computer via a firewall, the transmitted metering information;

means for storing, by the remote computer, the received metering information into a database; and

means for sharing the stored metering information in the database among a plurality of departments within the organization.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the unique identifier is a serial number and the means for storing comprises:

means for storing the received metering information in the database in association with the serial number of the metering device.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the metering device is one of a gas meter, a water meter, and an electricity meter.

9. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

means for linking the database to other metering databases within the organization, wherein the other metering databases include at least a metering history database.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the unique identifier is a serial number and the means for linking comprises means for linking the database and the other metering databases using the serial number of the metering device.

11. A computer-readable medium incorporating a computer program product for managing metering information within an organization, the computer program product comprising:

instructions for transmitting, using an Internet application-layer protocol, the metering information from a metering device automatically without receiving a request for the metering information, the metering information including at least a unique identifier of the metering device;

instructions for receiving, by a remote computer via a firewall, the transmitted metering information;

instructions for storing, by the remote computer, the received metering information into a database; and

instructions for sharing the stored metering information in the database among a plurality of departments within the organization.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the unique identifier is a serial number and the instructions for storing comprise:

instructions for storing the received metering information in the database in association with the serial number of the metering device.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the metering device is one of a gas meter, a water meter, and an electricity meter.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising:

instructions for linking the database to other metering databases within the organization, wherein the other metering databases include at least a metering history database.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the unique identifier is a serial number and the instructions for linking comprise instructions for linking the database and the other metering databases using the serial number of the metering device.

16. A method for communicating between a machine and a monitoring device, comprising:

determining status information using at least one of a mechanical and an 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,

wherein the machine is directly connected to a local area network, and the machine is one of a printer, a fax, a scanner, a copier, a metering system, and a vending machine.