System for transmitting a message using status button to system administrator by using a signal comprising predetermined number of changes effected over a period

A method of notifying a system administrator of a local area network (LAN) of a message using a status button on a front panel of a peripheral device interfaced to the LAN via a network interface device having a storage device, said method comprising the steps of:

• storing a message to the system administrator in the storage device;
• receiving signals input on the front panel of the peripheral device at the network interface device, the signals comprising a predetermined number of status changes effected over a predetermined period of time using the status button;
• analyzing the received signals to detect a message signal corresponding to the message to the system administrator;
• retrieving destination information for messages to the system administrator in response to detection of the message signal;
• retrieving from the storage device the message that corresponds to the input signal;
• forming a notification packet including the retrieved destination information, identification information regarding the peripheral device, and the message corresponding to the message signal;
• and
• transmitting the notification packet to the system administrator using the retrieved destination information.

A network interface device which interfaces between a peripheral device having a front panel and a local area network (LAN), the front panel of the peripheral device including a status button for effecting status changes of the peripheral device, said network interface device comprising:

• a LAN interface for sending signals to and receiving signals from the LAN;
• a peripheral interface for sending signals to and receiving signals from the peripheral device;
• a storage device that stores a message to a system administrator;
• and
• a processor that (i) analyzes signals received from the front panel of the peripheral device via the peripheral interface to detect a message signal corresponding to the message to the system administrator, the signals comprising a predetermined number of status changes effected over a predetermined period of time using the status button, (ii) retrieves the message to the system administrator from the storage device in response to detection of the message signal, (iii) retrieves destination information in response to the detection of the message signal, (iv) forms a notification packet including the retrieved destination information, identification information regarding the peripheral device, and the message corresponding to the message signal, and (v) transmits the notification packet to the system administrator over the LAN interface using the retrieved destination information.

Computer-executable process steps stored on a computer-readable medium, the process steps to transmit a message to a system administrator of a local area network (LAN) using a status button on a front panel of a peripheral device which is interfaced to the LAN via a network interface device having a storage device, said computer-executable process steps comprising:

• code to store a message to the system administrator in the storage device;
• code to detect an input signal at the network interface device, the input signal corresponding to the message stored in the storage device and being input on the front panel of the peripheral device, the signal comprising a predetermined number of status chances effected over a predetermined period of time using the status button;
• code to retrieve destination information for the message to the system administrator in response to detection of the input signal;
• code to retrieve the message from the storage device in response to detection of the input signal;
• code to form a notification packet including retrieved destination information, identification information regarding the peripheral device, and the message retrieved from the storage device;
• and
• code to transmit the notification packet to the system administrator using the retrieved destination information.

Computer-executable process steps stored on a computer-readable medium, the computer executable process steps to notify a system administrator of a local area network (LAN) of a message using a status button on a front panel of a peripheral device interfaced to the LAN via a network interface device having a storage device, said computer-executable process steps comprising:

• code to store a message to the system administrator in the storage device;
• code to receive signals input on the front panel of the peripheral device at the network interface device, the signals comprising a predetermined number of status changes effected over a predetermined period of time by the status button;
• code to analyze the received signals to detect a message signal corresponding to the message to the system administrator;
• code to retrieve destination information for the message to the system administrator in response to detection of the message signal;
• code to retrieve from the storage device the message that corresponds to the input signal;
• code to form a notification packet including the retrieved destination information, identification information regarding the peripheral device, and the message corresponding to the message signal;
• and
• code to transmit the notification packet to the system administrator using the retrieved destination information.

A computer-readable medium which stores computer-executable process steps, the computer-executable process steps to transmit a message to a system administrator of a local area network (LAN) using a status button on a front panel of a peripheral device which is interfaced to the LAN via a network interface device having a storage device, the computer-executable process steps comprising:

• a storing step to store a message to the system administrator in the storage device;
• a detecting step to detect an input signal at the network interface device, the input signal corresponding to the message stored in the storage device and comprising a predetermined number of status changes effected within a predetermined period of time using the status button on the front panel of the peripheral device;
• a retrieving step to retrieve destination information for the message to the system administrator in response to detection of the input signal;
• a retrieving step to retrieve the message from the storage device in response to detection of the input signal;
• a forming step to form a notification packet including retrieved destination information, identification information regarding the peripheral device, and the message retrieved from the storage device;
• and
• a second transmitting step to transmit the notification packet to the system administrator using the retrieved destination information.

A computer-readable medium which stores computer-executable process steps to notify a system administrator of a local area network (LAN) of a message using a status button on a front panel of a peripheral device interfaced to the LAN via a network interface device having a storage device, the computer-executable process steps comprising:

• a storing step to store a message to the system administrator in the storage device;
• a receiving step to receive signals input on the front panel of the peripheral device at the network interface device, the signals comprising a predetermined number of status changes effected over a predetermined period of time using the status button;
• an analyzing step to analyze the received signals to detect a message signal corresponding to the message to the system administrator;
• a retrieving step to retrieve destination information for the message to the system administrator in response to detection of the message signal;
• a retrieving step to retrieve from the storage device the message that corresponds to the input signal;
• a forming step to form a notification packet including the retrieved destination information, identification information regarding the peripheral device, and the message represented by the message signal;
• and
• a transmitting step to transmit the notification packet to the system administrator using the retrieved destination information.

An apparatus comprising:

• a peripheral device having a front panel which includes a status button used to effect status changes in the peripheral device;
• and
• a network interface device, the network interface device interfacing the peripheral device to a network, the network interface device comprising:
• a network interface for sending signals to and receiving signals from the network;
• a peripheral interface for sending signals to and receiving signals from the peripheral device;
• a storage device that stores a message to a system administrator;
• and
• a processor that (i) analyzes signals received from the front panel of the peripheral device via the peripheral interface to detect a message signal corresponding to the message to the system administrator, the message signal comprising a predetermined number of status changes effected over a predetermined period of time using the status button, (ii) retrieves the message to the system administrator from the storage device in response to detection of the message signal, (iii) retrieves destination information in response to the detection of the message signal, (iv) forms a notification packet including the retrieved destination information, identification information regarding the peripheral device, and the message corresponding to the message signal, and (v) transmits the notification packet to the system administrator over the network interface using the retrieved destination information.

A network system comprising:

• a computer for a system administrator, the computer being interfaced to a network;
• a peripheral device having a front panel which includes a status button used to effect status chances in the peripheral device;
• and
• a network interface device which interfaces the peripheral device to the network, the network interface device comprising:
• a network interface for sending signals to and receiving signals from the network;
• a storage device that stores a message to the system administrator;
• and
• a processor that (i) analyzes signals received from the front panel of the peripheral device via the peripheral interface to detect a message signal corresponding to the message to the system administrator, the message signal comprising a predetermined number of status changes effected over a predetermined period of time using the status button, (ii) retrieves the message to the system administrator from the storage device in response to detection of the message signal, (iii) retrieves destination information in response to the detection of the message signal, (iv) forms a notification packet including the retrieved destination information, identification information regarding the peripheral device, and the message corresponding to the message signal, and (v) transmits the notification packet to the system administrator's computer over the network interface using the retrieved destination information.