Method and apparatus for controlling and communicating with business office devices

Claim 1

A method for controlling communication of data between an office device and a remote terminal through a communication line, wherein first data is defined to be data generated within said office device and second data is defined to be data generated within said remote terminal, said method comprising the steps of: communicating said first data from said office device to said remote terminal, said communicating step including: generating said first data at said office device, transmitting said first data from a communication interface of said office device to a communication interface of said remote terminal through said communication line, processing said first data by the remote terminal; and communicating said second data from said remote terminal to said office device by performing the steps of: generating said second data at the remote terminal, transmitting said second data from a communication interface of said remote terminal to said office device communication interface through said communication line, processing said second data by said office device and controlling said office device in response to the processing by the office device, said method further comprising the step of storing static data representing characteristics of said office device which do not change over a life of said office device; wherein the step of transmitting said first data also transmits the static data to the remote terminal.

Claim 2

A method for controlling communication of data between an office device and a remote terminal through a communication line, wherein first data is defined to be data generated within said office device and second data is defined to be data generated within said remote terminal, said method comprising the steps of: communicating said first data from said office device to said remote terminal, said communicating step including: generating said first data at said office device, transmitting said first data from a communication interface of said office device to a communication interface of said remote terminal through said communication line, processing said first data by the remote terminal; and communicating said second data from said remote terminal to said office device by performing the steps of: generating said second data at the remote terminal, transmitting said second data from a communication interface of said remote terminal to said office device communication interface through said communication line, processing said second data by said office device and controlling said office device in response to the processing by the office device, said method further comprising the step of storing static data representing characteristics of said office device which do not change over a life of said office device; wherein the step of transmitting said first data also transmits the static data to the remote terminal.

Claim 6

A method for controlling communication of data between an office device and a remote terminal through a communication line, wherein first data is defined to be data generated within said office device and second data is defined to be data generated within said remote terminal, said method comprising the steps of: communicating said first data from said office device to said remote terminal, said communicating step including: generating said first data at said office device, transmitting said first data from a communication interface of said office device to a communication interface of said remote terminal through said communication line, processing said first data by the remote terminal; and communicating said second data from said remote terminal to said office device by performing the steps of: generating said second data at the remote terminal, transmitting said second data from a communication interface of said remote terminal to said office device communication interface through said communication line, processing said second data by said office device and controlling said office device in response to the processing by the office device, said method further comprising the step of storing semi-static data representing characteristics of said office device which infrequently change over a life of said office device; wherein the step of transmitting said first data also transmits the semi-static data to the remote terminal.

Claim 7

A method for controlling communication of data between an office device and a remote terminal through a communication line, wherein first data is defined to be data generated within said office device and second data is defined to be data generated within said remote terminal, said method comprising the steps of: communicating said first data from said office device to said remote terminal, said communicating step including: generating said first data at said office device, transmitting said first data from a communication interface of said office device to a communication interface of said remote terminal through said communication line, processing said first data by the remote terminal; and communicating said second data from said remote terminal to said office device by performing the steps of: generating said second data at the remote terminal, transmitting said second data from a communication interface of said remote terminal to said office device communication interface through said communication line, processing said second data by said office device and controlling said office device in response to the processing by the office device, said method further comprising the step of storing semi-static data representing characteristics of said office device which infrequently change over a life of said office device; wherein the step of transmitting said first data also transmits the semi-static data to the remote terminal.

Claim 8

A method according to claims 1 or 5, wherein said second data is data for controlling the office device.

Claim 9

A method according to claims 1 or 5, further comprising the step of storing dynamic state data representing characteristics of said office device which change according to at least one of a mechanical and an electrical state of said office device; wherein the step of transmitting said first data also transmits the dynamic state data to the remote terminal.

Claim 41

A method according to one of claims 1-5, 37 or 38 wherein a plurality of office devices are connected to the remote terminal and said method further comprises the step of: transmitting data from a second office device to the remote terminal.

Claim 42

A method according to one of claims 1-5, 37 or 38 wherein: said step of generating first data generates the first data to include an identification of the office device; and said step of transmitting said first data transmits the first data which includes the identification of the office device.

Claim 43

A method according to one of claims 1-5, 37 or 38 wherein: said office device is a copier; said step of communicating said first data communicates said first data from said copier to said remote terminal; and said step of communicating said second data communicates said second data from said remote terminal to said copier.

Claim 44

A method according to one of claims 1-5, 37 or 38 wherein: said office device is a printer; said step of communicating said first data communicates said first data from said printer to said remote terminal; and said step of communicating said second data communicates said second data from said remote terminal to said printer.

Claim 45

A method according to one of claims 1-5, 37 or 38 wherein: said office device is a facsimile machine; said step of communicating said first data communicates said first data from said facsimile machine to said remote terminal; and said step of communicating said second data communicates said second data from said remote terminal to said facsimile machine.

Claim 46

A method according to claims 1 or 5, further comprising the step of: transmitting a message from the office device to the remote terminal to notify the remote terminal of an abnormal condition within the office device.

Claim 52

A method of communication between a business office machine system connected to a first end of a communication line and a remote terminal connected to a second end of said communication line, comprising the steps of: generating, by the business office machine system, data including a source identification of said data, storing said data in a memory; processing said data and controlling said business office machine system in response to the processing of said data; and transmitting said processed data through an interface to said first end of said communication line; receiving said data by the remote terminal connected to said second end of said communication line; transmitting said received data through an interface to a processor of the remote terminal; processing said data received through the interface by the processor of the remote terminal, said method further comprising the step of: sending a command from the remote terminal to the business office machine system over the communication line which initiates a diagnostic operation in the business office machine system; wherein said step of transmitting said processed data is performed after the sending of the command which initiates the diagnostic operation in the business office machine system.

Claim 53

A method of communication between a business office machine system connected to a first end of a communication line and a remote terminal connected to a second end of said communication line, comprising the steps of: generating, by the business office machine system, data including a source identification of said data, storing said data in a memory; processing said data and controlling said business office machine system in response to the processing of said data; and transmitting said processed data through an interface to said first end of said communication line; receiving said data by the remote terminal connected to said second end of said communication line; transmitting said received data through an interface to a processor of the remote terminal; processing said data received through the interface by the processor of the remote terminal, said method further comprising the step of: sending a command from the remote terminal to the business office machine system over the communication line which initiates a diagnostic operation in the business office machine system; wherein said step of transmitting said processed data is performed after the sending of the command which initiates the diagnostic operation in the business office machine system.

Claim 54

A method of communication between a business office machine system connected to a first end of a communication line and a remote terminal connected to a second end of said communication line, comprising the steps of: generating, by the business office machine system, data including a source identification of said data, storing said data in a memory; processing said data and controlling said business office machine system in response to the processing of said data; and transmitting said processed data through an interface to said first end of said communication line; receiving said data by the remote terminal connected to said second end of said communication line; transmitting said received data through an interface to a processor of the remote terminal; processing said data received through the interface by the processor of the remote terminal, said method further comprising the step of: sending a command from the remote terminal to the business office machine system over the communication line which initiates a diagnostic operation in the business office machine system.

Claim 55

A method of communication between a business office machine system connected to a first end of a communication line and a remote terminal connected to a second end of said communication line, comprising the steps of: generating, by the business office machine system, data including a source identification of said data, storing said data in a memory; processing said data and controlling said business office machine system in response to the processing of said data; and transmitting said processed data through an interface to said first end of said communication line; receiving said data by the remote terminal connected to said second end of said communication line; transmitting said received data through an interface to a processor of the remote terminal; processing said data received through the interface by the processor of the remote terminal, said method further comprising the step of: sending a command from the remote terminal to the business office machine system over the communication line which initiates a diagnostic operation in the business office machine system.

Claim 56

A method according to claims 50 or 51, wherein after said step of transmitting data to the processor of the remote terminal, additional data is transferred from the business office machine system to the remote terminal.

Claim 57

A method according to claims 50 or 51, further comprising the step of: sending a message by the business office machine system to the remote terminal in order to notify the remote terminal of an abnormal state within the business office machine system.

Claim 58

A method according to claims 50 or 51, wherein: a second business office machine system is connected to the remote terminal and said second business office machine system performs the steps of: generating, by the second business office machine system, third data including a source identification of said third data, storing said third data generated by the second business office machine system in a memory of the second business office machine system; processing said third data and controlling said second business office machine system in response to the processing of said third data; and transmitting said processed third data through an interface to said remote terminal.

Claim 59

A method according to claims 50 or 51, further comprising the step of: transmitting data from the remote terminal to the business office machine system in response to the processing by the processor of the remote terminal.

Claim 61

A system, comprising: an office machine system communicating with a first end of a communication line, said office machine system including: a state data generator; a memory, coupled to said state data generator, which stores the state data generated by the state data generator; a processor, coupled to said memory, which processes the state data and controls said office machine system in response to said processing, and a communication interface having an output coupled to said first end of said communication line and an input coupled to said processor through which said state data is transmitted to said first end of the communication line; and a diagnostic processor, connected to a second end of said communication line, which processes said state data received from said office machine system to diagnose an operation of the office machine system and to communicate interactively with the office machine system wherein: said diagnostic processor includes means for sending a command from the diagnostic processor to the office machine system over the communication line which initiates a diagnostic operation in the office machine system; and data is transmitted from the office machine system to the diagnostic processor over the communication line after the diagnostic operation is initiated.

Claim 62

A system, comprising: an office machine system communicating with a first end of a communication line, said office machine system including: a state data generator; a memory, coupled to said state data generator, which stores the state data generated by the state data generator; a processor, coupled to said memory, which processes the state data and controls said office machine system in response to said processing, and a communication interface having an output coupled to said first end of said communication line and an input coupled to said processor through which said state data is transmitted to said first end of the communication line; and a diagnostic processor, connected to a second end of said communication line, which processes said state data received from said office machine system to diagnose an operation of the office machine system and to communicate interactively with the office machine system wherein: said diagnostic processor includes means for sending a command from the diagnostic processor to the office machine system over the communication line which initiates a diagnostic operation in the office machine system; and data is transmitted from the office machine system to the diagnostic processor over the communication line after the diagnostic operation is initiated.

Claim 63

A system, comprising: an office machine system communicating with a first end of a communication line, said office machine system including: a state data generator; a memory, coupled to said state data generator, which stores the state data generated by the state data generator; a processor, coupled to said memory, which processes the state data and controls said office machine system in response to said processing, and a communication interface having an output coupled to said first end of said communication line and an input coupled to said processor through which said state data is transmitted to said first end of the communication line; and a diagnostic processor, connected to a second end of said communication line, which processes said state data received from said office machine system to diagnose an operation of the office machine system and to communicate interactively with the office machine system, wherein: said diagnostic processor includes means for sending a command from the diagnostic processor to the office machine system over the communication line which initiates a diagnostic operation in the office machine system.

Claim 64

A system, comprising: an office machine system communicating with a first end of a communication line, said office machine system including: a state data generator; a memory, coupled to said state data generator, which stores the state data generated by the state data generator; a processor, coupled to said memory, which processes the state data and controls said office machine system in response to said processing, and a communication interface having an output coupled to said first end of said communication line and an input coupled to said processor through which said state data is transmitted to said first end of the communication line; and a diagnostic processor, connected to a second end of said communication line, which processes said state data received from said office machine system to diagnose an operation of the office machine system and to communicate interactively with the office machine system, wherein: said diagnostic processor includes means for sending a command from the diagnostic processor to the office machine system over the communication line which initiates a diagnostic operation in the office machine system.

Claim 65

A system according to claims 57 or 58, wherein said office machine system is selected from the group consisting of a copier, a facsimile machine, and a printer.

Claim 66

A system according to claims 57 or 58, wherein: said office machine system further comprises a control data generator; and said processor of said office machine system processes the control data and the state data and controls said office machine system in response to said processing.

Claim 67

A system according to claims 57 or 58, further comprising: means for transmitting data through the communication interface over the communication line to the diagnostic processor; and means for transmitting additional data through the communication interface over the communication line to the diagnostic processor.

Claim 68

A system according to claims 57 or 58, further comprising: means for sending a message by the business office machine system to the diagnostic processor in order to notify the diagnostic processor of an abnormal state within the business office machine system.

Claim 69

A system according to claims 57 or 58, further comprising a second office machine system connected to the diagnostic processor, comprising: a state data generator; a memory, coupled to said state data generator of the second office machine system, which stores the state data generated by the state data generator of the second office machine system; a processor, coupled to said memory of the second office machine system, which processes the state data of the second office machine system and controls said second office machine system in response to said processing; and a communication interface having an output coupled to a second communication line connected to said diagnostic processor and an input coupled to said processor of the second office machine system.

Claim 70

A system according to claims 57 or 58, wherein said diagnostic processor transmits data to the office machine system after processing by the diagnostic processor of the state data.

Claim 71

A system according to claims 57 or 58, wherein the office machine system further includes: means for transmitting a message from the office machine system to the diagnostic processor to notify the diagnostic processor of an abnormal condition within the office machine system.

Claim 72

A system according to claims 57 or 58, wherein said diagnostic processor is located in a diagnostic station which is remote from said office machine system.

Claim 73

A system according to claims 57 or 58, wherein said office machine system includes a plurality of copiers and an operation terminal and said operation terminal communicates with said plurality of copiers.