Method and system for diagnosing, collecting information and servicing a remote system

• US 20070033266A1
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Motoyama, Tetsuro, Fong, Avery
• Application Number:
  US11/544,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20070033266A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A monitoring system, method, and computer-program product tracks events and device states in a device and sends those events and states to a remote central service center using an Internet access module. The remote central service center monitors the received events and states for errors or warnings. The monitoring software (e.g., a dynamic link library) supports multiple data formats and multiple protocols to more effectively communicate the event and state information.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

obtaining semi-static state data from a motor vehicle;

transmitting the semi-static state data from the motor vehicle to a location remote from the motor vehicle; and

receiving the semi-static state data at the location which is remote from the motor vehicle.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining, transmitting, and receiving use semi-static state data which is a software version of software executing on a processor of the motor vehicle.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the obtaining, transmitting, and receiving use semi-static state data which is a ROM version.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting comprises:

transmitting the semi-static state data from the motor vehicle using wireless communication.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the transmitting comprises:

transmitting the semi-static state data which is a software version from the motor vehicle using wireless communication.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein the receiving comprises:

receiving the semi-static state data at a central service center.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the receiving comprises:

receiving the semi-static state data at a central service center which is the motor vehicle manufacturer.

8. A method according to claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting a message to a service depot

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the transmitting to the service depot comprises:

transmitting the message which indicates a problem to a service depot.

11. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:

communicating a message from the service depot to the owner of the car indicating a problem.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the obtaining, transmitting, and receiving operate using information from the motor vehicle which is an automobile.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the obtaining, transmitting, and receiving operate using information from the motor vehicle which is one of a train, an airplane, a motorcycle, and a boat.

9. A method according to clam 8, wherein the transmitting to the service depot comprises:

transmitting the message to the service depot which is a car dealer.

14. A system for communicating, comprising:

means for obtaining semi-static state data from a motor vehicle;

means for transmitting the semi-static state data from the motor vehicle to a location remote from the motor vehicle; and

means for receiving the semi-static state data at the location which is remote from the motor vehicle.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the means for obtaining, means for transmitting, and means for receiving use semi-static state data which is a software version of software executing on a processor of the motor vehicle.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the means for obtaining, means for transmitting, and means for receiving use semi-static state data which is a ROM version.

17. A system according to claim 14, wherein the means for transmitting comprises:

a wireless transmitter.

18. A system according to claim 15, wherein the means for transmitting comprises:

a wireless transmitter.

19. A system according to claim 15, wherein the means for receiving is at a central service center.

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein the means for receiving is at a central service center which is the motor vehicle manufacturer.

21. A system according to claim 19, further comprising:

means for transmitting a message to a service depot

23. A system according to claim 21, wherein the means for transmitting to the service depot comprises:

means for transmitting the message which indicates a problem to a service depot.

24. A system according to claim 21, further comprising:

means for communicating a message from the service depot to the owner of the car indicating a problem.

25. A system according to claim 14, wherein:

the motor vehicle is an automobile.

26. A system according to claim 14, wherein:

the motor vehicle is one of a train, an airplane, a motorcycle, and a boat.

22. A system according to clam 21, wherein the means for transmitting a message to a service depot transmits the message to the service depot which is a car dealer.

27. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a memory which stores a software version which is a version of software executing within the motor vehicle; and

a device configured to transmit the software version from the motor vehicle to a location remote from the motor vehicle.

28. A motor vehicle according to claim 27, wherein:

the memory which stores the software version stores the software version which is a ROM version.

29. A motor vehicle according to claim 27, wherein the device configured to transmit comprises:

a wireless transmitter.

30. A motor vehicle according to claim 27, wherein the device configured to transmit transmits the software version to a central service center.

31. A motor vehicle according to claim 30, wherein the device configured to transmit transmits the software version to the central service center which is the motor vehicle manufacturer.

32. A motor vehicle according to claim 27, wherein:

the motor vehicle is an automobile.

33. A motor vehicle according to claim 27, wherein:

the motor vehicle is one of a train, an airplane, a motorcycle, and a boat.

34. A computer program product including a storage medium which stores instructions for execution on a computer, the instructions for performing:

obtaining semi-static state data from a motor vehicle; and

transmitting the semi-static state data from the motor vehicle to a location remote from the motor vehicle.

35. A computer program product according to claim 34, wherein the obtaining and transmitting both use semi-static state data which is a software version.

36. A computer program product according to claim 35, wherein the obtaining and transmitting both use semi-static state data which is a ROM version.

37. A computer program product according to claim 34, wherein the transmitting comprises:

transmitting the semi-static state data from the motor vehicle using wireless communication.

38. A computer program product according to claim 35, wherein the transmitting comprises:

transmitting the semi-static state data which is a software version from the motor vehicle using wireless communication.