Method and system of remote monitoring of image forming apparatus

• US 20050248792A1
• Filed: 11/08/2001
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited, Rocoh Company, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Wright, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 7,518,750 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.130
• 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 the steps of:

receiving, at a location which is remote from the image forming machine, first parameters representing a condition of at least one part of said image forming apparatus;

storing said first parameters;

receiving, at the location which is remote from the image forming apparatus, second parameters after at least one image forming operation is executed by the image forming machine, said second parameters representing said condition of said at least one part of said image forming apparatus related to at least one of said first parameters;

comparing said first parameters and said second parameters; and

controlling a display of said condition on a terminal that is remote from said image forming apparatus using a result of the comparing step.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

storing a tolerance of said condition;

comparing said tolerance to said second parameter; and

controlling a display of said condition represented by said second parameter in a highlighted manner on said terminal, when the second parameter is determined to be outside of said tolerance by said comparing step.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of receiving said first parameter comprises:

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

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, at the location which is remote from the image forming apparatus, a message indicating an occurrence of an error in said image forming apparatus; and

sending at least one email from the location which is remote to at least one email address which has been stored in a memory to indicate that said message has been received from said image forming apparatus.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said email at said remote terminal;

instructing, at the remote terminal, that at least said second parameter is to be transmitted to the remote terminal;

transmitting the second parameter to the remote terminal; and

displaying said second parameter on said remote terminal.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

adjusting, at the remote terminal, said second parameter to form an updated second parameter;

sending, to said image machine, said updated parameter; and

whereby said updated second parameter modifies said condition of said image forming apparatus.

7. An image forming machine monitoring system, comprising:

means for receiving, at a location which is remote from the image forming machine, a first parameter representing a condition of at least one part of said image forming apparatus;

means for storing said first parameter;

means for receiving, at the location which is remote from the image forming apparatus, a second parameter after at least one image forming operation is executed by the image forming machine, said second parameter representing said condition of said at least one part of said image forming apparatus related to at least one of said first parameter;

means for comparing said first parameter and said second parameter to form compared data; and

means for controlling a display of said condition on a terminal that is remote from said image forming apparatus based on said compared data.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising means for storing a tolerance of said condition;

means for comparing said tolerance to said second parameter to form compared data; and

means for controlling a display of said condition represented by said second parameter in a highlighted manner on said terminal, when said compared data indicates the second parameter is determined to be outside of said tolerance.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said first parameter is transmitted from said image forming apparatus after said image forming apparatus is operated to execute a test operation when said image forming apparatus is installed at a user site so that said first parameter represents an acceptable condition existing at a time of installation.

10. The system of claim 7 further comprising, means for receiving, at the location which is remote from the image forming apparatus, a message indicating an occurrence of an error in said image forming apparatus;

and

means for sending at least one email from the location which is remote to at least one email address which has been stored in a memory to indicate that said message has been received from said image forming apparatus.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising means for receiving said email at said remote terminal;

means for instructing, at the remote terminal, that at least said second parameter is to be transmitted to the remote terminal;

means for transmitting the second parameter to the remote terminal; and

means for displaying said second parameter on said remote terminal.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising means for adjusting, at the remote terminal, said second parameter to form an updated second parameter;

means for sending, to said image machine, said updated parameter; and

wherein said updated second parameter modifies said condition of said image forming apparatus.