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

• US 7,945,700 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2010
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• 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:
  US12/710,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20100153549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-229, 709245-250
• 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, the device driver residing on a first computer having a Universal Serial Bus interface, wherein the first computer is connected to the device through the Universal Serial Bus interface,

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

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.

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

transmitting the device status information to the second computer at a predetermined time or upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

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

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is one of a printer, copier, a multifunction printer, and a facsimile machine.

5. A monitoring computer to monitor a device, comprising:

a processor configured to execute a device driver, the device driver including a control and diagnostic unit configured to obtain device status information from the device, including information obtained from sensors of the device and to transmit the device status information from the monitoring computer to a second computer, coupled to the monitoring computer, over a network using an Internet application-layer protocol; and

a Universal Serial Bus interface, wherein the monitoring computer is connected to the device through the Universal Serial Bus interface.

6. The monitoring computer of claim 5, wherein the control and diagnostic unit is configured to transmit the device status information to the second computer at a predetermined time or upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

7. The monitoring computer of claim 5, further comprising an input controller configured to control a keyboard connected to the monitoring computer.

8. The monitoring computer of claim 5, further comprising a display controller configured to control a display unit connected to the monitoring computer.