Patent US5493364A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5493364A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Equipment control apparatus having means to communicate with a centralized control apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1994-06-22
•
Granted: 1996-02-20
•
Expires: 2014-06-22
Abstract
Abstract An equipment controlling apparatus is composed of a counter for counting the operational number of the equipment, memories for storing data indicating the state of the equipment, a communication device for communicating on the stored data with a centralized control apparatus, which controls the communicated data intensively, and a controlling device for causing the stored data to be transmitted to the centralized control apparatus when the counter has counted a predetermined value.
Inventors
- 👤 Satoshi Kuroyanagi
- 👤 Masanori Miyata
- 👤 Hideki Adachi
- 👤 Shinichi Nakamura
- 👤 Naoyuki Ohki
- 👤 Tokuharu Kaneko
- 👤 Hiroshi Ozaki
- 👤 Hisatsugu Tahara
- 👤 Satoshi Kaneko
- 👤 Taisei Fukada
- 👤 Mitsuharu Takizawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 07:44
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/0703; G06F11/0706; G06F11/0733; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/50; G03G15/5075; G03G15/5079; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/1642; G03G21/1652; G06F11/0748; H; H04; H04M; H04M11/00; H04M11/007; G03G15/55; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00025; G03G2215/00109; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1672; G03G2221/1675; G03G2221/1696; G06F11/22; G06F11/2294; G06F11/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
An equipment controlling apparatus comprising: first storage means for storing data indicating a state of an equipment; inputting means for inputting a first telephone number and a second telephone number; second storage means for storing the first telephone number and the second telephone number inputted by said inputting means; communication means for communicating with a centralized control apparatus for controlling said data intensively; and controlling means for executing controls so that communication is performed with the second telephone number stored in said second storage means when the communication cannot be performed with the first telephone number stored in said second storage means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
An equipment controlling apparatus comprising: first storage means for storing data indicating a state of an equipment; inputting means for inputting a first telephone number and a second telephone number; second storage means for storing the first telephone number and the second telephone number inputted by said inputting means; communication means for communicating with a centralized control apparatus for controlling said data intensively; and controlling means for executing controls so that communication is performed with the second telephone number stored in said second storage means when the communication cannot be performed with the first telephone number stored in said second storage means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
An equipment controlling method according to claim 1, wherein said controlling means attempts communication with the second telephone number when communication cannot be performed with the first telephone number after communication with the first telephone number has been attempted for a predetermined number of times.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
92 words
An equipment controlling apparatus comprising: storage means for storing data indicating a state of an equipment; communication means for communicating with a centralized control apparatus for controlling said data intensively; and controlling means for executing controls so that communication is performed with a second telephone number when the communication cannot be performed with a first telephone number, wherein when said communication is performed with the first telephone number after communication has been attempted for a predetermined number of times, said controlling means does not perform communication with the first telephone number thereafter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
An equipment controlling apparatus comprising: storage means for storing data indicating a state of an equipment; communication means for communicating with a centralized control apparatus for controlling said data intensively; and controlling means for executing controls so that communication is performed with a second telephone number when the communication cannot be performed with a first telephone number, wherein when said communication is performed with the first telephone number after communication has been attempted for a predetermined number of times, said controlling means does not perform communication with the first telephone number thereafter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
An equipment controlling method comprising the steps of: storing data indicating a state of an equipment; inputting a first telephone number and a second telephone number; storing the inputted first telephone number and the inputted second telephone number; communicating with a centralized control apparatus for controlling said data intensively; and executing controls so that communication is performed with the stored second telephone number when the communication cannot be performed with the stored first telephone number.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
An equipment controlling method comprising the steps of: storing data indicating a state of an equipment; inputting a first telephone number and a second telephone number; storing the inputted first telephone number and the inputted second telephone number; communicating with a centralized control apparatus for controlling said data intensively; and executing controls so that communication is performed with the stored second telephone number when the communication cannot be performed with the stored first telephone number.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
An equipment controlling method according to claim 4, wherein, in said executing step, communication is attempted with the second telephone number when communication cannot be performed with the first telephone number after communication with the first telephone number has been attempted for a predetermined number of times.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
97 words
An equipment controlling method comprising the steps of: storing data indicating a state of an equipment; communicating with a centralized control apparatus for controlling said data intensively; and executing controls so that communication is performed with a second telephone number when the communication cannot be performed with a first telephone number, wherein when communication is performed with the first telephone number after communication has been attempted for a predetermined number of times, said controlling has been attempted for a predetermined number of times, communication is not performed with the first telephone number in said executing step thereafter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
97 words
An equipment controlling method comprising the steps of: storing data indicating a state of an equipment; communicating with a centralized control apparatus for controlling said data intensively; and executing controls so that communication is performed with a second telephone number when the communication cannot be performed with a first telephone number, wherein when communication is performed with the first telephone number after communication has been attempted for a predetermined number of times, said controlling has been attempted for a predetermined number of times, communication is not performed with the first telephone number in said executing step thereafter.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of controlling communication between an equipment and a centralized control apparatus located at a position apart from said equipment through a communication line, said method comprising the steps of: storing data indicative of a state of the equipment; communicating said data with said centralized control apparatus; and initiating communication of the stored data to said centralized control apparatus in response to a request for transmission of said data received from one of said equipment and said centralized control apparatus, wherein communication of the stored data to said centralized control apparatus is initiated after an operation of said equipment is terminated, when the request for the transmission of said data is received during the operation of said equipment.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of controlling communication between an equipment and a centralized control apparatus located at a position apart from said equipment through a communication line, said method comprising the steps of: storing data indicative of a state of the equipment; communicating said data with said centralized control apparatus; and initiating communication of the stored data to said centralized control apparatus in response to a request for transmission of said data received from one of said equipment and said centralized control apparatus, wherein communication of the stored data to said centralized control apparatus is initiated after an operation of said equipment is terminated, when the request for the transmission of said data is received during the operation of said equipment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein said data is allowed to be transmitted after a passage of a predetermined period of time since the termination of the operation of said equipment in the initiating step.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein said equipment is a recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium, said equipment being capable of causing said data to be transmitted after the passage of a predetermined period of time since the termination of the recording operation.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of controlling communication between equipment and a centralized control apparatus located at a position apart from said equipment through a communication line, said method comprising the steps of: storing data indicative of a state of the equipment; communicating said data with said centralized control apparatus; detecting a frequency of abnormality occurrences in said equipment; and initiating communication of the stored data to said centralized control apparatus at time intervals of a predetermined period, wherein, in the initiating step, the time intervals for initiating communication of said data are modified in accordance with detection results of said detecting step.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of controlling communication between equipment and a centralized control apparatus located at a position apart from said equipment through a communication line, said method comprising the steps of: storing data indicative of a state of the equipment; communicating said data with said centralized control apparatus; detecting a frequency of abnormality occurrences in said equipment; and initiating communication of the stored data to said centralized control apparatus at time intervals of a predetermined period, wherein, in the initiating step, the time intervals for initiating communication of said data are modified in accordance with detection results of said detecting step.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein said time intervals are shortened when abnormality often occurs in the initiating step.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein said equipment is a recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
95 words
An equipment controlling method comprising the steps of: storing common data indicating a state of an equipment, which are common to different kinds of equipment, and specific data indicating the state of the equipment, which are not common and cannot be used by the different kinds of equipment from said equipment; communicating with a centralized control apparatus which controls said common data and said specific data intensively through a communication line; and discriminating said common data and said specific data and causing them to be transmitted to said centralized control apparatus through the communication line.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
95 words
An equipment controlling method comprising the steps of: storing common data indicating a state of an equipment, which are common to different kinds of equipment, and specific data indicating the state of the equipment, which are not common and cannot be used by the different kinds of equipment from said equipment; communicating with a centralized control apparatus which controls said common data and said specific data intensively through a communication line; and discriminating said common data and said specific data and causing them to be transmitted to said centralized control apparatus through the communication line.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein in said storing step, said common data and said specific data are separately stored in addresses, and the addresses for storing said common data are a common area for each equipment irrespective of kinds of the equipment.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein in said discriminating step, relative address from head of data is caused to be transmitted.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
59 words
An equipment controlling method comprising the steps of: storing data indicating a state of an equipment; communicating with a first and second centralized control apparatus for controlling said data intensively through a communication line; and executing controls so that when no communication is possible with said first centralized control apparatus, communication is performed with said second centralized control apparatus.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
59 words
An equipment controlling method comprising the steps of: storing data indicating a state of an equipment; communicating with a first and second centralized control apparatus for controlling said data intensively through a communication line; and executing controls so that when no communication is possible with said first centralized control apparatus, communication is performed with said second centralized control apparatus.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein in said executing step, communicating with said second centralized control apparatus is attempted when communication with said first centralized control apparatus is not possible after communication has been attempted for a predetermined number of times.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein when no communication with said first centralized control apparatus is possible after communication has been attempted for a predetermined number of times, communication with said first centralized control apparatus is not performed thereafter in the executing step.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
113 words
An equipment controlling method of controlling communication between an image formation apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium and an external apparatus located at a position apart from an equipment controlling apparatus and said image formation apparatus through a communication line, said method comprising the steps of: storing data indicative of a state of the image formation apparatus; communicating with the external apparatus; and instructing transmission of the stored data to said external apparatus, wherein said data comprise a date and time of a defective feeding of the recording medium, a total counting value of image formations at the time of the defective feeding, and a kind of the defective feeding.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
113 words
An equipment controlling method of controlling communication between an image formation apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium and an external apparatus located at a position apart from an equipment controlling apparatus and said image formation apparatus through a communication line, said method comprising the steps of: storing data indicative of a state of the image formation apparatus; communicating with the external apparatus; and instructing transmission of the stored data to said external apparatus, wherein said data comprise a date and time of a defective feeding of the recording medium, a total counting value of image formations at the time of the defective feeding, and a kind of the defective feeding.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 19, wherein in the instructing step, its instruction is issued when an abnormality occurs in said image formation apparatus.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 19, wherein in the instructing step, its instruction is issued at a predetermined time.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 19, wherein in the instructing step, instruction is issued after a predetermined number of image recordings are performed by said image formation apparatus.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 19, wherein in the instructing step, instruction is issued when trouble occurs in said image formation apparatus with respect to said recording medium.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 19, wherein in the instructing step, instruction is issued when expendables consumed by said image formation apparatus are exhausted.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 19, wherein in the instructing step, instruction is issued when a counter value equals a predetermined value.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
111 words
An equipment controlling method of controlling communication between an image formation apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium and an external apparatus located at a position apart from an equipment controlling apparatus and said image formation apparatus through a communication line, said method comprising the steps of: storing data indicative of a state of the image formation apparatus; communicating with the external apparatus; and instructing transmission of the stored data to said external apparatus, wherein said data comprise a date and time of abnormal control of image formation, a total counting value of image formations at the time of the abnormal control, and a kind of the abnormal control.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
111 words
An equipment controlling method of controlling communication between an image formation apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium and an external apparatus located at a position apart from an equipment controlling apparatus and said image formation apparatus through a communication line, said method comprising the steps of: storing data indicative of a state of the image formation apparatus; communicating with the external apparatus; and instructing transmission of the stored data to said external apparatus, wherein said data comprise a date and time of abnormal control of image formation, a total counting value of image formations at the time of the abnormal control, and a kind of the abnormal control.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 26, wherein in said instructing step, instruction is issued when an abnormality occurs in said image formation apparatus.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 26, wherein in said instructing step, instruction is issued at a predetermined time.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 26, wherein in said instructing step, instruction is issued after a predetermined number of image recordings are performed by said image formation apparatus.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 26, wherein in said instructing step, instruction is issued when an abnormality occurs in said image formation apparatus with respect to said recording medium.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 26, wherein in the instructing step, instruction is issued when expendables consumed by said image formation apparatus are exhausted.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 26, wherein in the instructing step, instruction is issued when a counter value equals a predetermined value.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
106 words
An equipment controlling method of controlling communication between an image forming apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium and an external apparatus located at a position apart from an equipment controlling apparatus and said image formation apparatus through a communication line, said method comprising the steps of: storing data indicative of a state of the image formation apparatus; communicating with the external apparatus; and instructing transmission of the stored data to said external apparatus when a counter value equals a predetermined value, wherein said data comprise a date and time of transmission of the stored data to said external apparatus in said communicating step.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
106 words
An equipment controlling method of controlling communication between an image forming apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium and an external apparatus located at a position apart from an equipment controlling apparatus and said image formation apparatus through a communication line, said method comprising the steps of: storing data indicative of a state of the image formation apparatus; communicating with the external apparatus; and instructing transmission of the stored data to said external apparatus when a counter value equals a predetermined value, wherein said data comprise a date and time of transmission of the stored data to said external apparatus in said communicating step.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of controlling communication between an equipment and a centralized control apparatus located at a position apart from the equipment through a communication line, said method comprising the steps of: communicating data indicative of a state of the equipment with the centralized control apparatus; and initiating communication of the data in said communicating step to said centralized control apparatus, communication of the data being initiated in accordance with a predetermined condition corresponding to a type of the data, in said initiating step.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of controlling communication between an equipment and a centralized control apparatus located at a position apart from the equipment through a communication line, said method comprising the steps of: communicating data indicative of a state of the equipment with the centralized control apparatus; and initiating communication of the data in said communicating step to said centralized control apparatus, communication of the data being initiated in accordance with a predetermined condition corresponding to a type of the data, in said initiating step.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of controlling communication between an equipment and a centralized control apparatus located at a position apart from the equipment through a communication line, said method comprising the steps of: communicating data indicative of a state of the equipment with the centralized control apparatus; and initiating communication of the data in said communicating step to the centralized control apparatus in response to a request for transmission of the data received from one of the equipment and the centralized control apparatus, communication of the data to the centralized control apparatus being initiated in the initiating step if an operation of the equipment is not started during a predetermined time period after the request for the transmission of the data.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of controlling communication between an equipment and a centralized control apparatus located at a position apart from the equipment through a communication line, said method comprising the steps of: communicating data indicative of a state of the equipment with the centralized control apparatus; and initiating communication of the data in said communicating step to the centralized control apparatus in response to a request for transmission of the data received from one of the equipment and the centralized control apparatus, communication of the data to the centralized control apparatus being initiated in the initiating step if an operation of the equipment is not started during a predetermined time period after the request for the transmission of the data.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of controlling communication between an equipment and a centralized control apparatus located at a position apart from the equipment through a communication line, said method comprising the steps of: communicating data indicative of a state of the equipment with the centralized control apparatus; and detecting a frequency of abnormality occurrences in said equipment; and initiating communication of the data in said communicating step to the centralized control apparatus, communication of the data being initiated in accordance with detection results of the detecting means, in said initiating step.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of controlling communication between an equipment and a centralized control apparatus located at a position apart from the equipment through a communication line, said method comprising the steps of: communicating data indicative of a state of the equipment with the centralized control apparatus; and detecting a frequency of abnormality occurrences in said equipment; and initiating communication of the data in said communicating step to the centralized control apparatus, communication of the data being initiated in accordance with detection results of the detecting means, in said initiating step.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of controlling communication between an equipment and a centralized control apparatus located at a position apart from the equipment through a communication line, said method comprising the steps of: communicating data indicative of a state of the equipment with the centralized control apparatus; and detecting a frequency of abnormality occurrences in said equipment; and initiating communication of the data in said communicating step to the centralized control apparatus in accordance with a predetermined condition, said predetermined condition being modified in accordance with detection results of said detecting step, in the initiating step.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of controlling communication between an equipment and a centralized control apparatus located at a position apart from the equipment through a communication line, said method comprising the steps of: communicating data indicative of a state of the equipment with the centralized control apparatus; and detecting a frequency of abnormality occurrences in said equipment; and initiating communication of the data in said communicating step to the centralized control apparatus in accordance with a predetermined condition, said predetermined condition being modified in accordance with detection results of said detecting step, in the initiating step.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of controlling communication between an equipment and a centralized control apparatus located at a position apart from the equipment through a communication line, said method comprising the steps of: communicating data indicative of a state of the equipment with the centralized control apparatus; and initiating communication of the data in said communicating step to the centralized control apparatus a predetermined number of times, in said initiating step, said communicating step is controlled so that, when communication is unsuccessful during the predetermined number of times of initiation, communication is again initiated the predetermined number of times.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of controlling communication between an equipment and a centralized control apparatus located at a position apart from the equipment through a communication line, said method comprising the steps of: communicating data indicative of a state of the equipment with the centralized control apparatus; and initiating communication of the data in said communicating step to the centralized control apparatus a predetermined number of times, in said initiating step, said communicating step is controlled so that, when communication is unsuccessful during the predetermined number of times of initiation, communication is again initiated the predetermined number of times.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of controlling communication between an image formation apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium and a centralized control apparatus located at a position apart from the equipment through a communication line, said method comprising the steps of: communicating data indicative of a state of the image formation apparatus with the centralized control apparatus; and initiating communication of the data in said communicating step to said centralized control apparatus, wherein the data comprise a total count value of image formation operations at the time of a control abnormality in the image formation apparatus in combination with a type of the control abnormality.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of controlling communication between an image formation apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium and a centralized control apparatus located at a position apart from the equipment through a communication line, said method comprising the steps of: communicating data indicative of a state of the image formation apparatus with the centralized control apparatus; and initiating communication of the data in said communicating step to said centralized control apparatus, wherein the data comprise a total count value of image formation operations at the time of a control abnormality in the image formation apparatus in combination with a type of the control abnormality.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-02-19 | 1999-08-21 | 2000-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-02-19 | 2003-08-21 | 2004-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-02-19 | 2007-08-21 | 2008-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |