Method and system of remote monitoring of image forming apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of monitoring an image forming apparatus, comprising:
- communicating from the image forming apparatus to a server which is remote from the image forming apparatus a condition of the image forming apparatus;
sending an email from the server to a terminal which is remote from the image forming apparatus and remote from the server;
reading the email at the terminal, using an email program; and
viewing, in response to a reading of the email, a condition of the image forming apparatus, using a browser.
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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.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring an image forming apparatus, comprising:
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communicating from the image forming apparatus to a server which is remote from the image forming apparatus a condition of the image forming apparatus; sending an email from the server to a terminal which is remote from the image forming apparatus and remote from the server; reading the email at the terminal, using an email program; and viewing, in response to a reading of the email, a condition of the image forming apparatus, using a browser. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of monitoring an image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of:
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determining at the image forming apparatus a machine notification based on a condition of the image forming apparatus; transmitting, from the image forming apparatus to a server, said machine notification; determining, at said server, at least one electronic address which is capable of receiving an electronic message, whereby the step of determining is based on the machine notification; sending, from said server to at least one terminal which is remote from the image forming apparatus, said electronic message based on said machine notification; opening, at said remote computer, a browser; and accessing, via said browser, data related to operation of said image forming apparatus, said data determined based on said electronic message. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An image forming apparatus monitoring system, comprising:
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means for communicating from the image forming apparatus to a server which is remote from the image forming apparatus a condition of the image forming apparatus; means for sending an email from the server to a terminal which is remote from the image forming apparatus and remote from the server; means for reading the email at the terminal, using an email program; and means for viewing, in response to a reading of the email, a condition of the image forming apparatus, using a browser. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for monitoring an image forming apparatus, comprising:
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means for determining at the image forming apparatus a machine notification based on a condition of the image forming apparatus; means for transmitting, from the image forming apparatus to a server, said machine notification; means for determining, at said server, at least one electronic address which is capable of receiving an electronic message, whereby the step of determining is based on the machine notification; means for sending, from said server to at least one terminal which is remote from the image forming apparatus, said electronic message based on said machine notification; means for opening, at said remote computer, a browser; and means for accessing, via said browser, data related to operation of said image forming apparatus, said data determined based on said electronic message. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of communicating, comprising:
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sending an email from a first device containing information related to an image forming apparatus to a second device; reading the email at the second device, using an email program; and viewing, in response to a reading of the email, a condition of the image forming apparatus, using a browser.
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28. A system for communicating, comprising:
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means for sending an email from a first device containing information related to an image forming apparatus to a second device; means for reading the email at the second device, using an email program; and means for viewing, in response to a reading of the email, a condition of the image forming apparatus, using a browser.
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29. An image-forming system for sending, to a remote device, an electronic mail message containing information related to the image-forming system, the image-forming system comprising:
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means for determining a condition of the image-forming system; means for generating the electronic mail message based on the determined condition of the image-forming system, the electronic mail message including information enabling status information indicative of at least one current monitored machine condition of the image-forming system to be accessed, from the image-forming system, and viewed at the remote device, using a browser; and means for sending the electronic mail message to the remote device. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 34, 35)
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33. An image-forming system for sending, to a remote device, an electronic mail message containing information related to the image-forming system, the image-forming system comprising:
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a processor configured to determine a condition of the image-forming system; and an e-mail processor configured (1) to generate the electronic mail message based on the determined condition of the image-forming system, the electronic mail message including information enabling status information indicative of at least one current monitored machine condition of the image-forming system to be accessed, from the image-forming system, and viewed at the remote device, using a browser, and (2) to send the electronic mail message to the remote device. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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Specification