Method and system for diagnosis and control of machines using connection and connectionless modes of communication
First Claim
1. A method for communicating between a paper image output device and a monitoring device, comprising:
- obtaining, in the paper image output device, a status of the paper image output device determined using sensors within the paper image output device;
generating an electronic mail message, in the paper image output device, based on the obtained status; and
transmitting the electronic mail message over an Internet protocol network to the monitoring device from the paper image output device using an Internet e-mail protocol, wherein the paper image output device is directly connected to the Internet protocol network,wherein the obtained status includes information regarding at least one of a copy count of the paper image output device, a job count of the paper image output device, a toner level of the paper image output device, use of duplexing, use of manual feed, a malfunction of the paper image output device, and copy count by paper size of the paper image output device.
1 Assignment
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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
22 Claims
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1. A method for communicating between a paper image output device and a monitoring device, comprising:
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obtaining, in the paper image output device, a status of the paper image output device determined using sensors within the paper image output device; generating an electronic mail message, in the paper image output device, based on the obtained status; and transmitting the electronic mail message over an Internet protocol network to the monitoring device from the paper image output device using an Internet e-mail protocol, wherein the paper image output device is directly connected to the Internet protocol network, wherein the obtained status includes information regarding at least one of a copy count of the paper image output device, a job count of the paper image output device, a toner level of the paper image output device, use of duplexing, use of manual feed, a malfunction of the paper image output device, and copy count by paper size of the paper image output device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for communicating between a copier and a monitoring device, comprising:
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obtaining, in the copier, a status of the copier determined using sensors within the copier; generating an electronic mail message, in the copier, based on the obtained status; and transmitting the electronic mail message over an Internet protocol network to the monitoring device from the copier using an Internet e-mail protocol, wherein the copier is directly connected to the Internet protocol network, wherein the obtained status includes information regarding at least one of a copy count of the copier, a job count of the copier, a toner level of the copier, paper jams of the copier, use of duplexing, use of reduction, use of enlargement, use of manual feed, a malfunction of the copier, and copy count by paper size of the copier. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A paper image output device configured to communicate with a monitoring device, comprising:
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hardware components configured to form an image; means for obtaining a status of the paper image output device determined using sensors within the paper image output device; means for generating an electronic mail message based on the obtained status; and means for transmitting the electronic mail message over an Internet protocol network to the monitoring device from the paper image output device using an Internet e-mail protocol, wherein the paper image output device is directly connected to the Internet protocol network, wherein the obtained status includes information regarding at least one of a copy count of the paper image output device, a job count of the paper image output device, a toner level of the paper image output device, use of duplexing, use of manual feed, a malfunction of the paper image output device, and copy count by paper size of the paper image output device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A copier configured to communicate with a monitoring device, comprising:
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hardware components configured to form an image; means for obtaining a status of the copier determined using sensors within the copier; means for generating an electronic mail message based on the obtained status; and means for transmitting the electronic mail message over an Internet protocol network to the monitoring device from the copier using an Internet e-mail protocol, wherein the copier is directly connected to the Internet protocol network, wherein the obtained status includes information regarding at least one of a copy count of the copier, a job count of the copier, a toner level of the copier, paper jams of the copier, use of duplexing, use of reduction, use of enlargement, use of manual feed, a malfunction of the copier, and copy count by paper size of the copier. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification