Method and system for diagnosis and control of machines using connection and connectionless modes of communication

• US 7,620,744 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2004
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Americas Corporation (Ricoh Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Americas Corporation (Ricoh Company Limited), Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Motoyama, Tetsuro
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz; Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hassan; Aurangzeb
• Application Number:
  US10/933,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20050033872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,901 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 710/15
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5079 for maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00109 Remote control of apparatus, e.g. by a host
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/06 Generation of reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/065 related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• 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 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00002 Diagnosis, testing or measuring; Detecting, analysing or monitoring not otherwise provided for error detection, error correction or monitoring in digital computers or digital computer components G06F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00007 : relating to particular apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00029 : Diagnosis, i.e. identifying a problem by comparison with a normal state
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00079 : remotely
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 : Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 : with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00312 : with a digital transmission apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, SMS or ISDN device transmitting or receiving via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network or the internet H04N1/00214; transmission of digital information H04L
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33323 : transmission mode only, e.g. speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/44 : Secrecy systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 : Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 : Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33342 : of transmission mode

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring, controlling and diagnosing operation of a machine such as a business office machine including a facsimile machine, a copier, and a printer. When the speed of communication between the remote device and machine is not urgent, a connectionless mode of communication may be used. The form of connectionless communication is an electronic mail message transmitted over the Internet. However, when a condition needs urgent action, a direct connection is used for communication such as communication via a telephone or ISDN line. The information obtained from the machine is stored in one or more data bases within a company and information of the machine is shared between a service department, engineering and design department, manufacturing department, and marketing department. As communication over the Internet via electronic mail is not secure, the connectionless-mode messages transmitted using Internet electronic mail are encrypted.

Claims

1. A method for communicating between a paper image output device and a monitoring device, comprising:

obtaining, in the paper image output device, a status of the paper image output device determined using sensors within the paper image output device;

generating an electronic mail message, in the paper image output device, based on the obtained status; and

transmitting the electronic mail message over an Internet protocol network to the monitoring device from the paper image output device using an Internet e-mail protocol, wherein the paper image output device is directly connected to the Internet protocol network,

wherein the obtained status includes information regarding at least one of a copy count of the paper image output device, a job count of the paper image output device, a toner level of the paper image output device, use of duplexing, use of manual feed, a malfunction of the paper image output device, and copy count by paper size of the paper image output device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the paper image output device, a message that includes a request for the status of the paper image output device; and

analyzing the received message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the status is information regarding the toner level of the paper image output device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the status is information regarding the malfunction of the paper image output device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating and transmitting steps are performed at regular intervals, automatically without receiving a request by a user of the paper image output device.

6. A method for communicating between a copier and a monitoring device, comprising:

obtaining, in the copier, a status of the copier determined using sensors within the copier;

generating an electronic mail message, in the copier, based on the obtained status; and

transmitting the electronic mail message over an Internet protocol network to the monitoring device from the copier using an Internet e-mail protocol, wherein the copier is directly connected to the Internet protocol network,

wherein the obtained status includes information regarding at least one of a copy count of the copier, a job count of the copier, a toner level of the copier, paper jams of the copier, use of duplexing, use of reduction, use of enlargement, use of manual feed, a malfunction of the copier, and copy count by paper size of the copier.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving, by the copier, a message that includes a request for the status of the copier; and

analyzing the received message.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the status is information regarding the toner level of the copier.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the status is information regarding the malfunction of the copier.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the status is information regarding the paper jams of the copier.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the generating and transmitting steps are performed at regular intervals, automatically without receiving a request by a user of the copier.

12. A paper image output device configured to communicate with a monitoring device, comprising:

hardware components configured to form an image;

means for obtaining a status of the paper image output device determined using sensors within the paper image output device;

means for generating an electronic mail message based on the obtained status; and

means for transmitting the electronic mail message over an Internet protocol network to the monitoring device from the paper image output device using an Internet e-mail protocol, wherein the paper image output device is directly connected to the Internet protocol network,

wherein the obtained status includes information regarding at least one of a copy count of the paper image output device, a job count of the paper image output device, a toner level of the paper image output device, use of duplexing, use of manual feed, a malfunction of the paper image output device, and copy count by paper size of the paper image output device.

13. The paper image output device of claim 12, further comprising:

means for receiving a message that includes a request for the status of the paper image output device; and

means for analyzing the received message.

14. The paper image output device of claim 12, wherein the status is information regarding the toner level of the paper image output device.

15. The paper image output device of claim 12, wherein the status is information regarding the malfunction of the paper image output device.

16. The paper image output device of claim 12, further comprising:

means for causing the means for generating to generate the electronic mail message and at regular intervals, automatically without receiving a request by a user of the paper image output device; and

means for causing the means for transmitting to transmit the electronic mail message at the regular intervals, automatically without receiving a request by a user of the paper image output device.

17. A copier configured to communicate with a monitoring device, comprising:

hardware components configured to form an image;

means for obtaining a status of the copier determined using sensors within the copier;

means for generating an electronic mail message based on the obtained status; and

means for transmitting the electronic mail message over an Internet protocol network to the monitoring device from the copier using an Internet e-mail protocol, wherein the copier is directly connected to the Internet protocol network,

wherein the obtained status includes information regarding at least one of a copy count of the copier, a job count of the copier, a toner level of the copier, paper jams of the copier, use of duplexing, use of reduction, use of enlargement, use of manual feed, a malfunction of the copier, and copy count by paper size of the copier.

18. The copier of claim 17, further comprising:

means for receiving, by the copier, a message that includes a request for the status of the copier; and

means for analyzing the received message.

19. The copier of claim 17, wherein the status is information regarding toner level of the copier.

20. The copier of claim 17, wherein the status is information regarding the malfunction of the copier.

21. The copier of claim 17, wherein the status is information regarding the paper jams of the copier.

22. The copier of claim 17, further comprising:

means for causing the means for generating to generate the electronic mail message and at regular intervals, automatically without receiving a request by a user of the copier; and

means for causing the means for transmitting to transmit the electronic mail message at the regular intervals, automatically without receiving a request by a user of the copier.