METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REMOTE DIAGNOSTIC, CONTROL AND INFORMATION COLLECTION BASED ON VARIOUS COMMUNICATION MODES FOR SENDING MESSAGES TO A RESOURCE MANAGER

• US 20080065766A1
• Filed: 11/05/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Masaichi Niro, Tetsuro Motoyama
• Original Assignee: Masaichi Niro, Tetsuro Motoyama
• Inventors: Niro, Masaichi, MOTOYAMA, Tetsuro
• Granted Patent: US 7,801,977 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 monitoring an image handling device communicatively coupled to a network, comprising:

obtaining, by a first monitoring computer using a first Internet protocol, device information of the image handling device, the device information including (1) status information obtained from sensors of the image handling device, and (2) a device identification of the image handling device;

storing, by the first monitoring computer, the obtained device information;

processing the stored device information by the first monitoring computer to generate a usage report for the image handling device, wherein the usage report is based on the status information obtained over a period of time;

transmitting the usage report using a second Internet protocol from the first monitoring computer to a second computer; and

receiving the usage report by the second computer,

wherein the first monitoring computer is remote from the image handling device, and the first monitoring computer is the first computer to obtain the device information from the image handling device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting step comprises:

transmitting the usage report to the second computer at a predetermined time or upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the image handling device is a copier, and the usage report includes a number of copies made by the copier over the period.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

translating the usage report into HTML or Excel format.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing step comprises:

processing the stored device information to generate the usage report on one of a monthly and a weekly basis.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the second computer and the image handling device are arranged in a same local area network.

5. A system for monitoring an image handling device communicatively coupled to a network, comprising:

means for obtaining, by a first monitoring computer using a first Internet protocol, device information of the image handling device, the device information including (1) status information obtained from sensors of the image handling device, and (2) a device identification of the image handling device;

means for storing, by the first monitoring computer, the obtained device information;

means for processing the stored device information by the first monitoring computer to generate a usage report for the image handling device, wherein the usage report is based on the status information obtained over a period of time;

means for transmitting the usage report using a second Internet protocol from the first monitoring computer to a second computer; and

means for receiving the usage report by the second computer,

wherein the first monitoring computer is remote from the image handling device, and the first monitoring computer is the first computer to obtain the device information from the image handling device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the means for transmitting comprises:

means for transmitting the usage report to the second computer at a predetermined time or upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the means for processing comprises:

means for generating a usage report for a copier, the usage report including a number of copies made by the copier over the period.

8. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

means for translating the usage report into HTML or Excel format.

14. The system of claim 5, wherein the means for processing comprises:

means for processing the stored device information to generate the usage report on one of a monthly and a weekly basis.

9. A computer program product having a computer usable medium for monitoring an image handling device communicatively coupled to a network, comprising:

instructions for obtaining, by a first monitoring computer using a first Internet protocol, device information of the image handling device, the device information including (1) status information obtained from sensors of the image handling device, and (2) a device identification of the image handling device;

instructions for storing, by the first monitoring computer, the obtained device information;

instructions for processing, by the first monitoring computer, the stored device information to generate a usage report for the image handling device, wherein the usage report is based on the status information obtained over a period of time;

instructions for transmitting the usage report using a second Internet protocol from the first monitoring computer to a second computer; and

instructions for receiving the usage report by the second computer,

wherein the first monitoring computer is remote from the image handling device, and the first monitoring computer is the first computer to obtain the device information from the image handling device.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the instructions for transmitting comprise:

instructions for transmitting the usage report to the second computer at a predetermined time or upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the image handling device is a copier, and the usage report includes a number of copies made by the copier over the period.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising:

instructions for translating the usage report into HTML or Excel format.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the processing step comprises:

processing the stored device information to generate the usage report on one of a monthly and a weekly basis.