US 6,473,812 B2 · System using internet email for communicating status information from business office printing device when it is in normal operating condition

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.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method for using Internet electronic mail to manage a business office device automatically without human intervention, comprising the steps of:

monitoring a business office device by a business office device server;
generating a first Internet electronic mail message by the business office device server, the first Internet electronic mail message including a request for a status of the business office device determined using sensors within the business office device;
transmitting the first Internet electronic mail message to the business office device;
and
generating a second Internet electronic mail message to report a status of the business office device and transmitting the second Internet electronic mail message to the business office device server in response to the request for a status of the first Internet electronic mail message, when the business office device is in a normal operating condition,
wherein the business office device comprises at least one of a printer, a copier, and a facsimile machine.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System using internet email for communicating status information from business office printing device when it is in normal operating condition

Life of this patent

System using internet email for communicating status information from business office printing device when it is in normal operating condition

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22