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

• US 7,383,359 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2003
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Motoyama, Tetsuro, Niro, Masaichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung; Zarni
• Application Number:
  US10/638,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20040030779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,757 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-203, 709217-219, 709/224, 709/250, 709/227, 700/108, 710/15, 710/313, 719/321, 719/327
• US Class Current: 709/250
• 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 a device, comprising:

accessing the device by a software component associated with a device driver of the device residing on a first dedicated personal computer connected to the device through one of a serial interface, a parallel interface, a Universal Serial Bus interface, and a IEEE 1394 interface;

controlling, by the device driver, a functionality of the device;

obtaining, by the device driver, device status information from the device, including information obtained from sensors of the device;

transmitting the device status information from the first computer to a second computer coupled to the first computer over a network using an Internet application layer protocol; and

receiving the device status information by the second computer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing the device status information to obtain processed status information, the processed status information reflecting cumulative status information by the second computer.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the processed status information by the second computer.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the obtained device status information in the first computer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is one of a digital copier, an analog copier, a facsimile, a scanner, a printer, a facsimile server, an appliance, a microwave oven, a VCR, a digital camera, security system, an electrical meter, a water meter, and a gas meter.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an email communication at the first dedicated personal computer, said email communication including an executable program; and

executing the executable program which sends commands to the device driver that cause the device driver to perform the accessing and obtaining.

7. A system for monitoring a device, comprising:

a software component associated with a device driver of the device residing on a first dedicated personal computer connected to the device through one of a serial interface, a parallel interface, a Universal Serial Bus interface, and a IEEE 1394 interface, the device driver configured to access the device, control the functionality of the device, and to obtain device status information from the device, including information obtained from sensors of the device; and

a transmission unit configured to transmit the device status information from the first computer to a second computer coupled to the first computer over a network using an Internet application layer protocol.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a storage unit configured to store the obtained device status information in the first computer.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the device is one of a digital copier, an analog copier, a facsimile, a scanner, a printer, a facsimile server, an appliance, a microwave oven, a VCR, a digital camera, security system, an electrical meter, a water meter, and a gas meter.

10. A computer readable storage medium, encoded with instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method of monitoring a device, comprising:

accessing the device by a software component associated with a device driver of the device residing on a first dedicated personal computer connected to the device through one of a serial interface, a parallel interface, a Universal Serial Bus interface, and a IEEE 1394 interface;

controlling, by the device driver, a functionality of the device;

obtaining, by the device driver, device status information from the device, including information obtained from sensors of the device;

transmitting the device status information from the first computer to a second computer coupled to the first computer over a network using an Internet application layer protocol; and

receiving the device status information by the second computer.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

processing the device status information to obtain processed status information, the processed status information reflecting cumulative status information.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

storing the processed status information.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

instructions for storing the obtained device status information in the first computer.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the device is one of a digital copier, an analog copier, a facsimile, a scanner, a printer, a facsimile server, an appliance, a microwave oven, a VCR, a digital camera, security system, an electrical meter, a water meter, and a gas meter.

15. A system for monitoring a device, comprising:

means for accessing the device by a software component associated with a device driver of the device residing on a first dedicated personal computer connected to the device through one of a serial interface, a parallel interface, a Universal Serial Bus interface, and a IEEE 1394 interface;

means for controlling, by the device driver, a functionality of the device;

means for obtaining, by the device driver, device status information from the device, including information obtained from sensors of the device;

means for transmitting the device status information from the first computer to a second computer coupled to the first computer over a network using an Internet application layer protocol; and

means for receiving the device status information by the second computer.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

means for processing the device status information to obtain processed status information, the processed status information reflecting cumulative status information.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

means for storing the processed status information.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

means for storing the obtained device status information in the first computer.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the device is one of a digital copier, an analog copier, a facsimile, a scanner, a printer, a facsimile server, an appliance, a microwave oven, a VCR, a digital camera, security system, an electrical meter, a water meter, and a gas meter.