System using an internet application for monitoring an image-forming device

• US 7,457,889 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2005
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Americas Corporation (Ricoh Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Americas Corporation (Ricoh Company Limited), Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Motoyama, Tetsuro
• Primary Examiner(s): LUU, LE HIEN
• Application Number:
  US11/293,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20060168063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 710/15, 710/16, 710/9, 709/206, 709/224, 709/250, 709/249, 709/221, 358/1.15, 380/30, 400/88, 714/27, 705/8
• 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 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.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the storing step comprises:

storing the received device information in the second digital repository in association with the serial number of the image-forming device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the image-forming device is one of a printer, a digital copier, and a facsimile machine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first digital repository is one of a device history digital repository and an attachment digital repository.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting, receiving, and storing steps are performed periodically.

6. A system for managing device information, comprising:

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.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the means for storing comprises:

means for storing the received device information in the second digital repository in association with the serial number of the image-forming device.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the image-forming device is one of a printer, a digital copier, and a facsimile machine.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the first digital repository is one of a device history digital repository and an attachment digital repository.

10. The system of claim 6, further comprising means for repeating the means for transmitting, receiving, and storing periodically.

11. A computer-readable medium incorporating a computer program product for managing device information, the computer program product comprising:

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.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the instructions for storing comprise:

instructions for storing the received device information in the second digital repository in association with the serial number of the image-forming device.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the image-forming device is one of a printer, a digital copier, and a facsimile machine.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the first digital repository is one of a device history digital repository and an attachment database digital repository.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising instructions for repeating the instructions for transmitting, receiving, and storing periodically.

16. A method of managing device information, comprising:

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.