Method and system for remote diagnostic, control and information collection based on various communication modes for sending messages to a resource manager

• US 7,801,977 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2007
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Motoyama, Tetsuro, Niro, Masaichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung; Zarni
• Application Number:
  US11/935,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20080065766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-224, 709 21-219, 710 18- 19, 710/40, 710/44
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5075 Remote control machines, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5079 for maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/065 related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/067 using time frame reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• 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 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

A method, system, and program product for communicating with machines connected to a network. Information sent to or from the machines is transmitted using electronic mail or a via a direct connection. The electronic mail may be transmitted over the Internet to a service center or from a service center to a resource administrator, but also may remain within a local or wide area network for transmission between a machine and a resource administrator. E-mail messages may be transmitted from a computer which is attached to a device which is being monitored or controlled and include information regarding the status, usage or capabilities of the attached device. The device may send status messages and usage information of the device to either a resource administrator or to a service center on the Internet through a firewall. The message may be sent directly to the resource administrator station if urgent service is needed by the device. For routine information, the service center may manage all the resources on an intranet and may send predetermined types of information to the resource administrator using e-mail.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring an image handling device communicatively coupled to a network, comprising:

obtaining, by a first monitoring computer using a first Internet application-layer protocol, device information of the image handling device, the device information including (1) status information obtained from sensors of the image handling device, and (2) a device identification of the image handling device;

storing, by the first monitoring computer, the obtained device information;

transmitting the device information using a second Internet application-layer protocol from the first monitoring computer to a second computer; and

receiving the device information by the second computer,

wherein the first monitoring computer is remote from the image handling device, and the first monitoring computer is the first computer to obtain the device information from the image handling device.

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

transmitting the device information to the second computer at a predetermined time or upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second computer and the image handling device are arranged in a same local area network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second Internet application-layer protocols are different application-layer protocols.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the image handling device is one of a printer, copier, a multifunction printer, and a facsimile machine.

6. A system for monitoring an image handling device communicatively coupled to a network, comprising:

means for obtaining, by a first monitoring computer using a first Internet application-layer protocol, device information of the image handling device, the device information including (1) status information obtained from sensors of the image handling device, and (2) a device identification of the image handling device;

means for storing, by the first monitoring computer, the obtained device information;

means for transmitting the device information using a second Internet application-layer protocol from the first monitoring computer to a second computer; and

means for receiving the device information by the second computer,

wherein the first monitoring computer is remote from the image handling device, and the first monitoring computer is the first computer to obtain the device information from the image handling device.

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

means for transmitting the device information to the second computer at a predetermined time or upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

8. A computer readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to monitor an image handling device communicatively coupled to a network by performing a method, comprising:

obtaining, by a first monitoring computer using a first Internet application-layer protocol, device information of the image handling device, the device information including (1) status information obtained from sensors of the image handling device, and (2) a device identification of the image handling device;

storing, by the first monitoring computer, the obtained device information;

transmitting the device information using a second Internet application-layer protocol from the first monitoring computer to a second computer; and

receiving the device information by the second computer,

wherein the first monitoring computer is remote from the image handling device, and the first monitoring computer is the first computer to obtain the device information from the image handling device.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the transmitting step comprises:

transmitting the device information to the second computer at a predetermined time or upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

10. An apparatus for monitoring an image handling device communicatively coupled to a network, comprising:

means for obtaining, using a first Internet application-layer protocol, device information of the image handling device, the device information including (1) status information obtained from sensors of the image handling device, and (2) a device identification of the image handling device;

means storing the obtained device information;

means for processing the stored device information to generate a usage report for the image handling device, wherein the usage report is based on the status information obtained over a period of time; and

means for transmitting, using a second Internet application-layer protocol, the usage report to a second computer,

wherein the apparatus is remote from the image handling device, and the apparatus is the first apparatus to obtain the device information from the image handling device.

11. An apparatus for monitoring an image handling device communicatively coupled to a network, comprising:

means for obtaining, using a first Internet application-layer protocol, device information of the image handling device, the device information including (1) status information obtained from sensors of the image handling device, and (2) a device identification of the image handling device;

means storing the obtained device information; and

means for transmitting, using a second Internet application-layer protocol, the usage report to a second computer,

wherein the apparatus is remote from the image handling device, and the apparatus is the first apparatus to obtain the device information from the image handling device.