System and method for remote communication with a multifunctional device

• US 20080228956A1
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Cortez, J. Roger, Lorenzo, Arturo M., Cavanaugh, Michael F., Novak, Jeffrey M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,899,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/18
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5075 Remote control machines, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/18 specially adapted for controlling several coin-freed apparatus from one place
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• 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 1/44 Secrecy systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

Systems and methods for transmitting information from a multifunctional device to a centralized management server are disclosed. A method for transmitting information between a multifunctional device and a centralized management server includes collecting information from a multifunctional device using a wireless device; rendering the information secure using a secure functionality; and transmitting the secure information over a network to a centralized management server.

Claims

1. A system for collecting information from a multifunctional device comprising:

a multifunctional device; and

a wireless device in operative communication with the multifunctional device, wherein the wireless device collects information from the multifunctional device, processes the collected information using application code and stores the processed information.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the information is collected continuously and automatically based on a predetermined algorithm configured in the wireless device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the information is collected in response to a request initiated at a centralized management server.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the information is collected in response to a request initiated at the multifunctional device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the collected information is processed using Java 2 Micro Edition.

6. A system for transmitting information between a multifunctional device and a centralized management server comprising:

a multifunctional device;

a wireless device in operative communication with the multifunctional device, the wireless device capable of collecting information and using application code to process the information and render the information secure;

a network in operative communication with the wireless device, wherein the wireless device can transmit information securely over the network; and

a centralized management server in operative communication with the network.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the information collected is a meter count.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the wireless device comprises:

a programmable microprocessor module;

a wireless communication network;

an amount of persistent data storage; and

a data cable connected to a two-way communication channel on the multifunctional device.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the wireless device further comprises a GPS module.

10. The system of claim 6 further comprising a communications controller which connects the centralized management server to the network.

11. The system of claim 6 wherein the centralized management server is at a remote location.

12. The system of claim 6 wherein the wireless device transmits information securely over the network automatically based on a predetermined algorithm configured in the wireless device.

13. A method of transmitting information from a multifunctional device to a centralized management server comprising:

collecting information from a multifunctional device using a wireless device;

rendering the information secure using a secure functionality that is contained within the wireless device; and

transmitting the secure information over a network to a centralized management server.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the collection of information from the multifunctional device occurs continuously and automatically based on a predetermined algorithm configured in the wireless device.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the collection of information from the multifunctional device occurs in response to a request for information.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the information is rendered secure using a communication protocol such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol over Secure Socket Layer (HTTPS).

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the centralized management server analyzes the information and moves the information to an internal system for further processing.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the information collected is a meter count.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the meter count is collected in order to bill for a service.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the meter count is collected in order to request replenishment of a consumable supply.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein the information includes a service code related to the multifunctional device.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein collecting of the service code initiates a service call related to the multifunctional device.