System using an internet application for monitoring an image-forming device
First Claim
1. A method of managing device information, comprising:
- creating a first digital repository including first device information of an image-forming device;
transmitting, over the Internet, second device information from an image-forming device, the second device information including at least a serial number of the image-forming device;
receiving the transmitted device information;
storing the received device information in a second digital repository; and
linking the first device information in the first digital repository and the second device information in the second digital repository using the serial number of the image-forming device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
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
16 Claims
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1. A method of managing device information, comprising:
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creating a first digital repository including first device information of an image-forming device; transmitting, over the Internet, second device information from an image-forming device, the second device information including at least a serial number of the image-forming device; receiving the transmitted device information; storing the received device information in a second digital repository; and linking the first device information in the first digital repository and the second device information in the second digital repository using the serial number of the image-forming device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for managing device information, comprising:
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means for creating a first digital repository including first device information of an image-forming device; means for transmitting, over the Internet, second device information from an image-forming device, the second device information including at least a serial number of the image-forming device; means for receiving the transmitted device information; means for storing the received device information in a second digital repository; and means for linking the first device information in the first digital repository and the second device information in the second digital repository using the serial number of the image-forming device. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer-readable medium incorporating a computer program product for managing device information, the computer program product comprising:
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instructions for creating a first digital repository including first device information of an image-forming device; instructions for transmitting, over the Internet, second device information from an image-forming device, the second device information including at least a serial number of the image-forming device; instructions for receiving the transmitted device information; instructions for storing the received device information in a second digital repository; and instructions for linking the first device information in the first digital repository and the second device information in the second digital repository using the serial number of the image-forming device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of managing device information, comprising:
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transmitting, over a network using an Internet protocol, first device information from an image-forming device automatically without receiving a request for the first device information, the first device information including at least a unique identification of the image-forming device; receiving, via a firewall, the transmitted device information by a remote computer that is marketing the image-forming device; storing the received device information in a first digital repository; transmitting, over a network using the Internet protocol, second device information from the image-forming device, the second device information including status information of the image-forming device; receiving the transmitted second device information; storing the received second device information in a second digital repository including service history information; and linking the first device information of the image-forming device in the first digital repository and the second device information of the image-forming device in the second digital repository.
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Specification