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

• US 20070033268A1
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Motoyama, Tetsuro, Fong, Avery
• Granted Patent: US 7,516,193 B2
• 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, comprising:

obtaining a unique identification of a motor vehicle from a memory in the motor vehicle;

transmitting the unique identification from the motor vehicle to a location remote from the motor vehicle; and

receiving the unique identification at the location which is remote from the motor vehicle.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining, transmitting, and receiving operate on the unique identification which is the serial number of the motor vehicle.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the obtaining, transmitting, and receiving operate on the unique identification which further indicates characteristics of the motor vehicle.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the obtaining, transmitting, and receiving operate on the unique identification which further indicates a model of the motor vehicle.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the obtaining, transmitting, and receiving operate on the unique identification which further indicates the model of the motor vehicle.

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

transmitting the unique identification from the motor vehicle using wireless communication.

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

receiving the unique identification at a central service center.

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

receiving the unique identification at a central service center which is the motor vehicle manufacturer.

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

transmitting a message to a service depot.

11. 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.

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

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

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

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

14. 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.

10. 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.

15. A system, comprising:

means for obtaining a unique identification of a motor vehicle from a memory in the motor vehicle;

means for transmitting the unique identification from the motor vehicle to a location remote from the motor vehicle; and

means for receiving the unique identification at the location which is remote from the motor vehicle.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the means for obtaining, means for transmitting, and means for receiving operate on the unique identification which is the serial number of the motor vehicle.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the means for obtaining, means for transmitting, and means for receiving operate on the unique identification which further indicates characteristics of the motor vehicle.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the means for obtaining, means for transmitting, and means for receiving operate on the unique identification which further indicates the model of the motor vehicle.

19. A system according to claim 16, wherein the means for obtaining, means for transmitting, and means for receiving operate on the unique identification which further indicates the model of the motor vehicle.

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

means for transmitting the unique identification from the motor vehicle using wireless communication.

21. A system according to claim 16, wherein the means for receiving comprises:

means for receiving the unique identification at a central service center.

22. A system according to claim 20, wherein the means for receiving comprises:

means for receiving the unique identification at a central service center which is the motor vehicle manufacturer.

23. A system according to claim 20, further comprising:

means for transmitting a message to a service depot.

25. A system according to claim 22, wherein the means for transmitting to the service depot comprises:

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

26. A system according to claim 22, further comprising:

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

27. A system according to claim 15, wherein:

the motor vehicle is an automobile.

28. A system according to claim 15, wherein:

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

30. A motor vehicle according to claim 23, wherein:

the memory which stores the unique identification stores a unique serial number of the motor vehicle.

31. A motor vehicle according to claim 23, wherein:

the memory which stores the unique identification store a unique identification which further indicates characteristics of the motor vehicle.

32. A motor vehicle according to claim 23, wherein:

the memory which stores the unique identification store a unique identification which further indicates a model of the motor vehicle.

33. A motor vehicle according to claim 23, wherein the device configured to transmit comprises:

a wireless transmitter.

34. A motor vehicle according to claim 23, wherein the device configured to transmit transmits the unique identification to a central service center.

35. A motor vehicle according to claim 34, wherein the device configured to transmit transmits the unique identification to the central service center which is the motor vehicle manufacturer.

36. A motor vehicle according to claim 23, wherein:

the motor vehicle is an automobile.

37. A motor vehicle according to claim 23, wherein:

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

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

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

29. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a memory which stores a unique identification of a motor vehicle; and

a device configured to transmit the unique identification from the motor vehicle to a location remote from the motor vehicle.

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

obtaining a unique identification of a motor vehicle from a memory in the motor vehicle; and

transmitting the unique identification from the motor vehicle to a location remote from the motor vehicle;

39. A computer program product according to claim 38, wherein the obtaining and transmitting obtain and transmit the unique identification which is the serial number of the motor vehicle.

40. A computer program product according to claim 39, wherein the obtaining and transmitting obtain and transmit the unique identification which further indicates characteristics of the motor vehicle.

41. A computer program product according to claim 40, wherein the obtaining and transmitting obtain and transmit the unique identification which further indicates a model of the motor vehicle.

42. A computer program product according to claim 39, wherein the obtaining and transmitting obtain and transmit the unique identification which further indicates a model of the motor vehicle.

43. A computer program product according to claim 38, wherein the transmitting transmits the unique identification from the motor vehicle using wireless communication.