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

• US 20040030779A1
• Filed: 08/12/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masaichi Niro, Tetsuro Motoyama
• Original Assignee: Masaichi Niro, Tetsuro Motoyama
• Inventors: Motoyama, Tetsuro, Niro, Masaichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,383,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• 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 processing messages, comprising the steps of:

transmitting an electronic message by a network resource device;

receiving the electronic message by a service center computer;

determining whether the message which is received is from a device associated with a first resource administration computer; and

transmitting a communication from the service center computer to the first resource administration computer, when it is determined that the message is from the device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic message comprises information regarding the usage of the device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic message comprises at least one of an electronic mail message and a connection-mode message, and wherein the communication comprises at least one of an electronic mail message and a connection-mode message.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

generating, after the receiving step, summary information regarding usage of the device, wherein

the communication includes the summary information.

5. A method of processing messages, comprising the steps of:

transmitting an electronic message by a network resource device;

receiving the electronic message by a resource administrator computer;

determining whether the message which has been received includes information indicating an urgent need of the network resource device.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the information indicating an urgent need of the network resource device includes at least one of:

information indicating a low supply of toner,

information indicating a low supply of paper,

information indicating an overheated component of the network resource device,

information indicating a nonfunctional component of the network resource device,

information indicating a paper jam, and

information indicating a lack of electrical power.

7. A computer system for processing messages, the system comprising:

a network resource device configured to transmit an electronic message;

a service center computer configured to receive the electronic message, to determine whether the message which is received is from a device associated with a first resource administration computer, and to transmit a communication from the service center computer to the first resource administration computer, when it is determined that the message is from the device.

8. The computer system according to claim 7, wherein the electronic message comprises information regarding the usage of the device.

9. The computer system according to claim 7, wherein the electronic message comprises at least one of an electronic mail message and a connection-mode message, and wherein the communication comprises at least one of an electronic mail message and a connection-mode message.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein said service center computer is further configured to generate summary information regarding usage of the device, wherein the communication includes the summary information.

11. A computer system for processing messages, the system comprising:

a network resource device configured to transmit an electronic message;

a resource administrator computer configured to receive the electronic message, and to determine whether the message includes information indicating an urgent need of the network resource device.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the information indicating an urgent need of the network resource device includes at least one of:

information indicating a low supply of toner,

information indicating a low supply of paper,

information indicating an overheated component of the network resource device,

information indicating a nonfunctional component of the network resource device,

information indicating a paper jam, and

information indicating a lack of electrical power.

13. A program product, including a computer readable medium embodying program instructions for enabling a system to perform the steps of:

receiving an electronic message from a network resource device by a service center computer;

determining whether the message which is received is from a device associated with a first resource administration computer; and

transmitting a communication from the service center computer to the first resource administration computer, when it is determined that the message is from the device.

14. A program product according to claim 13, embodying program instructions for enabling the system to perform the step of transmitting an electronic message by a network resource device.

15. A program product according to claim 13, wherein the electronic message comprises at least one of an electronic mail message and a connection-mode message, and wherein the communication comprises at least one of an electronic mail message and a connection-mode message.