Method and system of remote monitoring of image forming apparatus

• US 7,978,370 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2009
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Wright, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Thomas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brinich; Stephen M
• Application Number:
  US12/400,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20090174903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.9, 358/2.1, 358/468, 358/400, 358/406, 358/500, 358/504, 382260-267, 382199-200, 382/274
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00344 with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus monitoring H04N1/00002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0091 Digital copier; digital 'photocopier' H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring and controlling machines, such as printers, copiers, facsimile machine and other image forming machines. A server is used for transmitting and communicating information among machines and computers. The server acquires, after machine installation, reference values and during operation, current condition information. The server evaluates this information with the reference values such that a response to the machine may be executed remotely. The server also may update the reference values which change during operation.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring an image forming apparatus, comprising:

receiving, at a location remote from the image forming apparatus, a first parameter representing a condition of the image forming apparatus;

storing the first parameter;

receiving, at the location remote from the image forming apparatus, a second parameter after at least one image forming operation is executed by the image forming apparatus, the second parameter representing the condition of the image forming apparatus;

calculating a difference between the first parameter and the second parameter;

determining whether the calculated difference between the first parameter and the second parameter is greater than an upper limit value; and

displaying the condition when the difference between the first parameter and the second parameter is greater than the upper limit value.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the calculated difference between the first parameter and the second parameter is less than a lower limit value.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

displaying the condition when the difference between the first parameter and the second parameter is less than the lower limit value.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the location remote from the image forming apparatus, the first parameter representing the condition of the image forming apparatus at predetermined time intervals from the image forming apparatus.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the condition represented by said second parameter in a highlighted manner, when the difference between the first parameter and the second parameter is greater than the upper limit value.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the location which is remote from the image forming apparatus, an e-mail message including the second parameter and indicating an occurrence of an error at the image forming apparatus.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving the email, including the second parameter, at the remote terminal; and

displaying the second parameter at the remote terminal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first parameter comprises:

receiving the first parameter from the image forming apparatus after the image forming apparatus is operated to execute a test operation when the image forming apparatus is installed so that the first parameter represents an acceptable condition existing at a time of installation.

9. An image forming device monitoring apparatus configured to monitor an image forming device which is remotely located, comprising:

a network interface configured to receive a first parameter representing a condition of the image forming apparatus;

a memory configured to store the first parameter;

the network interface configured to receive a second parameter after at least one image forming operation is executed by the image forming apparatus, the second parameter representing the condition of the image forming apparatus;

a processor configured to calculate a difference between the first parameter and the second parameter, and determine whether the calculated difference between the first parameter and the second parameter is greater than an upper limit value; and

a display configured to display the condition when the difference between the first parameter and the second parameter is greater than the upper limit value.

10. The image forming device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the calculated difference between the first parameter and the second parameter is less than a lower limit value.

11. The image forming device of claim 10, wherein the display is configured to display the condition when the difference between the first parameter and the second parameter is less than the lower limit value.

12. The image forming device of claim 9, wherein the network interface is configured to receive the first parameter representing the condition of the image forming apparatus at predetermined time intervals from the image forming apparatus.

13. The image forming device of claim 9, wherein the display is configured to display the condition represented by said second parameter in a highlighted manner, when the difference between the first parameter and the second parameter is greater than the upper limit value.

14. The image forming device of claim 9, wherein the network interface is configured to receive an e-mail message including the second parameter and indicating an occurrence of an error at the image forming apparatus.

15. The image forming device of claim 9, wherein the network interface is configured to receive the first parameter from the image forming apparatus after the image forming apparatus is operated to execute a test operation when the image forming apparatus is installed so that the first parameter represents an acceptable condition existing at a time of installation.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including computer program instructions, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of monitoring an image forming apparatus, comprising:

receiving a first parameter representing a condition of the image forming apparatus;

storing the first parameter;

receiving a second parameter after at least one image forming operation is executed by the image forming apparatus, the second parameter representing the condition of the image forming apparatus;

calculating a difference between the first parameter and the second parameter;

determining whether the calculated difference between the first parameter and the second parameter is greater than an upper limit value; and

displaying the condition when the difference between the first parameter and the second parameter is greater than the upper limit value.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising:

determining whether the calculated difference between the first parameter and the second parameter is less than a lower limit value.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising:

displaying the condition when the difference between the first parameter and the second parameter is less than the lower limit value.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving the first parameter representing the condition of the image forming apparatus at predetermined time intervals from the image forming apparatus.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising:

displaying the condition represented by said second parameter in a highlighted manner, when the difference between the first parameter and the second parameter is greater than the upper limit value.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving an e-mail message including the second parameter and indicating an occurrence of an error at the image forming apparatus.