Method and system for remote diagnostic, control and information collection based on various communication modes for sending messages to a resource manager

• US 6,631,247 B1
• Filed: 09/29/1999
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Motoyama, Tetsuro, Niro, Masaichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prieto, Beatriz
• Application Number:
  US09/408,443
• Time in Patent Office: 1,469 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 709/229, 709/238, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 710/15, 707/531, 707/511, 707/104, 380/2, 705/39, 705/54, 705/406, 358/434, 399/8, 399/9
• US Class Current: 399/8
• 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 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 processing messages, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a message from a network device to a first computer which is remote from said network device, said message including information obtained from sensors of the network device;

receiving the message by the first computer;

determining, by the first computer, if a communication containing at least part of the message including at least some of the information obtained from sensors is to be transmitted from the first computer to a second computer which is local to said device;

transmitting the communication from the first computer to the second computer in response to the determination made by the first computer; and

receiving said communication by the second computer.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the message comprises information regarding usage of the device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the message comprises an Internet electronic mail message.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication generated by the first computer comprises an electronic mail message.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the message comprises an Internet electronic mail message, and the Communication generated by the first computer comprises electronic mail message.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating, by the first computer, the communication to include summary information regarding usage of the device,

wherein the step of transmitting the communication from the first computer comprises transmitting, by the first computer, the communication which includes the information regarding usage of the device to the second computer.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network device is a business office device.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the business office device is at least one of a printer, copier, and facsimile machine.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting the message comprises:

transmitting said message from the network device to the first computer without going through the second computer.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting a message from a network device to the second computer which is local to the device, said message including said information obtained from the sensors of the network device.

11. A system for processing messages, comprising:

means for transmitting a message from a network device to a first computer which is remote from said network device, said message including information obtained from sensors of the network device;

means for receiving the message by the first computer;

means for determining, by the first computer, if a communication containing at least part of the message including at least some of the information obtained from sensors is to be transmitted from the first computer to a second computer which is local to said device;

means for transmitting the communication from the first computer to the second computer in response to the determination made by the first computer; and

means for receiving said communication by the second computer.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the message comprises information regarding usage of the device.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the message comprises an Internet electronic mail message.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the communication generated by the first computer comprises an electronic mail message.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the message comprises an Internet electronic mail message, and the communication generated by the first computer comprises an electronic mail message.

16. The system according to claim 11, further comprising:

means for generating, by the first computer, the communication to include summary information Regarding usage of the device,

wherein the means for transmitting the communication from the first computer comprises means for transmitting, by the first computer, the communication which includes the information regarding usage of the device to the second computer.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein the network device is a business office device.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the business office device is at least one of printer, copier, and facsimile machine.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein said means for transmitting the message comprises:

means for transmitting said message from the network device to the first computer without going through the second computer.

20. The system according to claim 11, further comprising:

means for transmitting a message from a network device to the second computer which is local to the device, said message including said information obtained from the sensors of the network device.