Reporting the state of an apparatus to a remote computer
AssigneeAxeda Systems Operating Company, Inc.
InventorJames R. Hansen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The state of an apparatus is reported to a remote computer using an embedded device in the apparatus. The embedded device detects the state, generates an electronic mail message that reports the state using a self-describing computer language, and sends the electronic mail message to the remote computer. The remote computer receives the electronic mail message and extracts the state of the embedded device from the message.
Claims59
A method performed by a device associated with an apparatus to report a state of the apparatus to a remote computer that cannot directly address the device, the method comprising:
- detecting the state of the apparatus, wherein detecting is performed by monitoring variables associated with the apparatus, the monitoring occurring independently of communications from the remote computer;
- generating a message that reports the state of the apparatus using a self-describing computer language, wherein generating is performed periodically or in response to a deviation in the state;
- and
- sending the message to the remote computer;
- wherein the deviation is indicative of an error condition in the apparatus, and wherein the error condition comprises one or more variables that deviate from an acceptable value or a predetermined range of acceptable values.
A method, performed by a computer, for obtaining a state of an apparatus from a device associated with the apparatus, the method comprising:
- receiving a message from the device that reports the state of the apparatus using a self-describing computer language, the message being independent of communications initiated by the computer, the message being received from a network that includes the device and that is not directly addressable by the computer, the message being received periodically or in response to a deviation in the state;
- and
- extracting the state of the apparatus from the message;
- wherein deviation is indicative of an error condition in the apparatus, and wherein the error condition comprises one or more variables that deviate from an acceptable value or a predetermined range of acceptable values.
A computer program stored on a computer-readable medium for use by a device associated with an apparatus to report a state of the apparatus to a remote computer that cannot directly address the device, the computer program comprising instructions that cause the device to:
- detect the state of the apparatus, wherein detecting is performed by monitoring variables associated with the apparatus, the monitoring occurring independently of communications from the remote computer;
- generate a message that reports the state of the apparatus using a self-describing computer language, wherein generating is performed periodically or in response to a deviation in the state;
- and
- send the message to the remote computer;
- wherein the deviation is indicative of an error condition in the apparatus, and wherein the error condition comprises one or more variables that deviate from an acceptable value or a predetermined range of acceptable values.
A computer program stored on a computer-readable medium for use by a computer to obtain a state of an apparatus from a device associated with the apparatus, the computer program comprising instructions that cause a processor in the computer to:
- receive a message from the device that reports the state of the apparatus using a self-describing computer language, the message being independent of communications initiated by the computer, the message being received from a network that includes the device and that is not directly addressable by the computer, the message being received periodically or in response to a deviation in the state;
- and
- extract the state of the apparatus from the message;
- wherein the deviation is indicative of an error condition in the apparatus, and wherein the error condition comprises one or more variables that deviate from an acceptable value or a predetermined range of acceptable values.
A device associated with an apparatus for reporting a state of the apparatus to a remote computer that cannot directly address the device, the device comprising circuitry which:
- detects the state of the apparatus, wherein detecting is performed by monitoring variables associated with the apparatus, the monitoring occurring independently of communications from the remote computer;
- generates a message that reports the state of the apparatus using a self-describing computer language, wherein generating is performed periodically or in response to a deviation in the state;
- and
- sends the message to the remote computer;
- wherein the deviation is indicative of an error condition in the apparatus, and wherein the error condition comprises one or more variables that deviate from an acceptable value or a predetermined range of acceptable values.
A first apparatus for obtaining a state of a second apparatus from a device associated with the second apparatus, the first apparatus comprising circuitry which:
- receives a message from the device that reports the state of the second apparatus using a self-describing computer language, the message being independent of communications initiated by the first apparatus, the message being received from a network that includes the device and that is not directly addressable by the first apparatus, the message being received periodically or in response to a deviation in the state;
- and
- extracts the state of the second apparatus from the message;
- wherein the deviation is indicative of an error condition in the second apparatus, and
- wherein the error condition comprises one or more variables that deviate from an acceptable value or a predetermined range of acceptable values.
A system comprising:
- a first device comprising circuitry which generates a message reporting a state of an apparatus using a self-describing computer language, wherein reporting is performed following monitoring of variables associated with the apparatus, the reporting occurring independently of instructions received from a second device, and wherein generating is performed periodically or in response to a deviation in the state, the deviation being indicative of an error condition in the apparatus and the error condition comprising one or more variables that deviate from an acceptable value or a predetermined range of acceptable values;
- and
- the second device, which can communicate with the first device but which cannot directly address the first device, the second device comprising circuitry which receives the message from the first device and which relays content from the message to an external system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.