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

• US 9,015,261 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2013
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• 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): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US13/846,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20130311580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/206, 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/224
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5079 for maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1207 resulting in the user being informed about print result after a job submission
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1219 with regard to consumables, e.g. ink, toner, paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1273 Print job history, e.g. logging, accounting, tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• 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 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• 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 1/0323 Heads moving to and away from the reproducing medium, e.g. for pressure sensitive reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32021 according to the type of received information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0017 Notifying a communication result
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3202 of communication or activity log or report

Abstract

A method, system, and program product for communicating with machines and end users 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 an end user or 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 by an end user to either a resource administrator or to a service center on the Internet through a firewall.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring usage of an image output device, comprising:

receiving, from an image output device, a real-time status message transmitted using an Internet application-layer protocol over a network, the received message including usage information related to usage of the image output device by a registered user of the image output device, the usage information being at least one of information of a capability of the image output device, status information of the image output device, and an alert;

extracting, from the received message, identifying information of the image output device;

extracting, from the received message, the usage information related to the usage of the image output device by the registered user;

storing the extracted usage information in association with the identifying information in a database; and

transmitting a message over the network to a predetermined destination, when the extracted usage information indicates that a usage level of the registered user exceeds a predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the image output device is one of a copier and a printer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of extracting identifying information comprises:

extracting a device identifier of the image output device;

extracting model information of the image output device; and

extracting device type information of the image output device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

extracting, from the received message, page count information of the registered user of the image output device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

extracting, from the received message, total page count information of the image output device, wherein the total page count information includes the total page count since a last report.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage information includes page count information of the registered user, and the transmitting step comprises transmitting an email message to the registered user when the page count information for the user exceeds a predetermined percentage of a predetermined page count limit.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

registering the user as an authorized user of the image output device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage information includes page count information and the transmitting step comprises transmitting the message when the extracted page count information exceeds the predetermined threshold.

6. A system, comprising:

a computer including a processor configured to

receive, from an image output device, a real-time status message transmitted using an Internet application-layer protocol over a network, the received message including usage information related to usage of the image output device by a registered user of the image output device, the usage information being at least one of information of a capability of the image output device, status information of the image output device, and an alert;

extract, from the received message, identifying information of the image output device;

extract, from the received message, the usage information related to the usage of the image output device by the registered user;

store the extracted usage information in association with the identifying information in a database; and

transmit a message over the network to a predetermined destination, when the extracted usage information indicates that a usage level of the registered user exceeds a predetermined threshold.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the image output device is one of a copier and a printer.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein, in extracting the identifying information, the processor is further configured to:

extract a device identifier of the image output device;

extract model information of the image output device; and

extract device type information of the image output device.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to:

extract, from the received message, page count information of the registered user of the image output device.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to:

extract, from the received message, total page count information of the image output device, wherein the total page count information includes the total page count since a last report.