Method and system for diagnosis and control of machines using connectionless modes having delivery monitoring and an alternate communication mode

• US 7,509,380 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1997
• 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): Maung; Zarni
• Application Number:
  US11/311,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20060101125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207, 709/227, 709/229, 709/245, 709/223
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting

Abstract

A method and system for retransmitting messages using an alternate mode of communication when an original mode of communication is determined to be unsuccessful. A message is first transmitted using a connectionless-mode of communication such as by using an Internet electronic mail message. A request for acknowledgment of receipt of the message and/or individual operators within the message is requested. If the acknowledgment of receipt of the message is not received within an appropriate time determined based on an urgency level of the reply, the message is retransmitted using a more reliable mode of communication such as a connection-mode of operation which includes a direct telephone connection over a public telephone network using a modem, using an ISDN line, or a cable with a cable modem.

Claims

1. A method of controlling communications, comprising:

generating, by a first monitoring device connected to a first local area network, a first message which comprises an electronic mail message including a reply request field in a body of the electronic mail message;

automatically transmitting, from the first monitoring device, the first message to a second monitored device connected to a second local area network using an Internet e-mail protocol, the first and second local area networks being separated by a firewall;

monitoring, by the first monitoring device, whether the second monitored device transmits, to the first monitoring device, a response to the first message; and

transmitting, by the first monitoring device, a second message to the second monitored device when the step of monitoring determines that the first monitoring device has not received a response to the electronic mail message from the second monitored device,

wherein the second monitored device is one of a printer, a facsimile machine, a facsimile server, a scanner, a copier, a metering system, and a vending machine.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the second message comprises:

transmitting the second message as a connection-mode message to the second monitored device.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein:

the step of transmitting the connection-mode message is performed when the first monitoring device does not receive a response to the electronic mail message within a predetermined time period.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of:

determining the predetermined time period based on an urgency level of a requested reply.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the connection-mode message comprises:

transmitting the connection-mode message using telephone communication.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of transmitting the connection-mode message comprises:

transmitting the connection-mode message using the telephone communication without using an Internet connection.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of transmitting the connection-mode message comprises:

transmitting the connection-mode message using a cable.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the second message comprises:

displaying the second message on a display of the first monitoring device.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of displaying the second message comprises:

displaying a message indicating that service for the second monitored device is needed.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of displaying the second message comprises:

displaying a message that an acknowledgment of receipt of the electronic mail message has not been received.

11. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of:

processing contents of the first message before transmitting the second message.

12. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

analyzing contents of the first message; and

transmitting a reply indicating the status of an operator within the message from the second monitored device to the first monitoring device.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of transmitting a reply comprises:

transmitting one of an indication that the operator has not been received, has not yet begun executing, is in the process of executing, has finished executing, or has terminated executing abnormally.

14. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of transmitting from the first monitoring device the first message comprises:

transmitting the first message from the first monitoring device which is a business office device.

15. A method of controlling communications, comprising:

generating, by a first monitoring device connected to a first local area network, a first message which comprises an electronic mail message including a reply request field in a body of the electronic mail message;

automatically transmitting, from the first monitoring device, the first message to a second monitored device connected to a second local area network using an Internet e-mail protocol, the first and second local area networks being separated by a firewall;

receiving, by the second monitored device, the electronic mail message;

processing the electronic mail message by the second monitored device; and

transmitting from the second monitored device to the first monitoring device a second message which includes status information of an operator contained within the first message,

wherein the second monitored device is one of a printer, a facsimile machine, a facsimile server, a scanner, a copier, a metering system, and a vending machine.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of transmitting from the second monitored device comprises:

transmitting status information of the operator which includes one of an indication that an operator has not been received, has not yet begun executing, is in the process of executing, has finished executing, or has terminated executing abnormally.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of transmitting from the first monitoring device the first message comprises:

transmitting the first message from the first monitoring device which is a business office device.

18. A system for controlling communications, comprising:

means for generating, by a first monitoring device connected to a first local area network, a first message which comprises an electronic mail message including a reply request field in a body of the electronic mail message;

means for automatically transmitting, from the first monitoring device, the first message to a second monitored device connected to a second local area network using an Internet e-mail protocol, the first and second local area networks being separated by a firewall;

means for monitoring, by the first monitoring device, whether the second monitored device transmits, to the first monitoring device, a response to the first message; and

means for transmitting, by the first monitoring device, a second message to the second monitored device when the means for monitoring determines that the first monitoring device has not received a response to the electronic mail message from the second monitored device,

wherein the second monitored device is one of a printer, a facsimile machine, a facsimile server, a scanner, a copier, a metering system, and a vending machine.