US5909493A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for diagnosis and control of machines using connectionless modes of communication
Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1996-10-16
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Granted: 1999-06-01
•
Expires: 2016-10-16
Abstract
Abstract A method and system of remotely monitoring and controlling machines and business office devices such as copiers, printers, and facsimile machines. Outgoing messages, such as Internet e-mail messages containing information describing the business office device are monitored by a security center. The security center either receives an unencrypted form of the message, or alternatively receives an encrypted form of the message. If the message is encrypted, it will be necessary for the security center to first decrypt the message. The contents of the message are monitored by the security center to assure that only authorized information is transmitted from an authorized business office device, over the Internet, to a data center which monitors the status of and/or controls the business office device. A log of messages passing through a firewall to the Internet is maintained and compared with messages received by the security center to assure that only messages which have been received by the security center and checked are transmitted through the firewall over the Internet.
Inventors
- 👤 Tetsuro Motoyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:27
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L63/00; H04L63/02; H04L63/0227; H04L63/04; H04L63/0428; H04L9/00; H04L9/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 60
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of processing communications from a machine having electro-mechanical sensors to a data center, comprising the steps of: creating a message containing information of the machine to be transmitted to the data center; transmitting the message from the machine to a firewall device; transmitting the message to a security device; and analyzing the message by the security device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of processing communications from a machine having electro-mechanical sensors to a data center, comprising the steps of: creating a message containing information of the machine to be transmitted to the data center; transmitting the message from the machine to a firewall device; transmitting the message to a security device; and analyzing the message by the security device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the message to the security device comprises: forwarding the message received by the firewall device to the security device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: performing a security action when the analyzing step determines that the message is not an authorized message.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of performing a security action comprises: prohibiting the message from passing through the firewall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of performing a security action comprises: prohibiting future messages from passing through the firewall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: encrypting the message to be transmitted to the firewall device, before transmitting the message to the firewall device, the method further comprising the step of decrypting, by the security device, the encrypted message received from the firewall device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: logging messages into a log which are outgoing through the firewall device, wherein the step of analyzing comprises: comparing messages received at the security device with the log of the messages outgoing through the firewall device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of: outputting a warning indicating that one of the messages sent to the security device does not match a corresponding one of the messages outgoing through the firewall device, when the step of comparing messages received at the security device determines that one of the messages outgoing through the firewall device does not match the corresponding message received by the security device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein: the step of transmitting the message to the security device transmits the message to the security device which is part of the firewall device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein: the step of creating a message comprises creating the message to contain information received from the electromechanical sensors of the machine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein: the step of creating a message comprises creating the message to contain information received from the electromechanical sensors of the machine which is a business office device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the message to the security device comprises: transmitting the message from the firewall device to the security device, said method further comprising the step of: transmitting the message from the machine to the security device, wherein the step of analyzing comprises: comparing, by the security device, the message received by the security device from the machine with the message received by the security device from the firewall device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
89 words
A method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of: encrypting the message to be transmitted to the firewall device, before transmitting the message to the firewall device, wherein the step of transmitting the message from the firewall device to the security device comprises transmitting the encrypted message, the method further comprising the step of decrypting, by the security device, the encrypted message received from the firewall device, wherein the step of comparing comprises comparing the message received by the machine with the message which has been decrypted.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein the step of transmitting the message from the machine to the security device comprises: transmitting the message in an unencrypted form.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of: logging messages which are outgoing through the firewall device; and comparing messages received at the security device with messages transmitted through the firewall device which have been logged.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of: outputting a warning indicating that one of the messages sent to the security device does not match a corresponding one of the messages outgoing through the firewall device, when the step of comparing messages received at the security device determines that one of the messages outgoing through the firewall device does not match the corresponding message received by the security device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein: the step of creating a message comprises creating the message to contain information received from the electromechanical sensors of the machine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein: the step of creating a message comprises creating the message to contain information received from the electromechanical sensors of the machine which is a business office device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: creating a log of messages passing through the firewall device from machines, wherein the step of analyzing comprises: comparing, by the security device, messages received from the machine with the log of messages passing through the firewall device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of: outputting a warning when one of the messages received from the machine does not correspond to the log of messages passing through the firewall device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of: prohibiting further messages from the machine from passing through the firewall device, when said one of the messages received from the machine is determined not to exist in the log of messages passing through the firewall device by the comparing step.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 19, wherein: the step of creating a message comprises creating the message to contain information received from the electromechanical sensors of the machine.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 22, wherein: the step of creating a message comprises creating the message to contain information received from the electromechanical sensors of the machine which is a business office device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
93 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: encrypting the message, before the message is transmitted to the firewall device and transmitted to the security device, wherein the step of transmitting to the firewall device comprises transmitting the encrypted message to the firewall device, wherein the step of transmitting to the security device comprises transmitting the encrypted message to the firewall device, the method further comprising the step of: decrypting the message by the security device, wherein the analyzing step comprises analyzing contents of the message which has been decrypted.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 24, further comprising the step of: decoding the decrypted message, wherein the analyzing step comprises: analyzing the contents of the messages which have been decrypted and decoded.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 24, wherein the analyzing step comprises: determining if the contents of the message are from a machine which is permitted to communicate with the data center.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 24, wherein the analyzing step comprises: determining if the contents of the message contain only information which is authorized to be transmitted to the data center.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 24, wherein: the step of creating a message comprises creating the message to contain information received from the electromechanical sensors of the machine.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 28, wherein: the step of creating a message comprises creating the message to contain information received from the electromechanical sensors of the machine which is a business office device.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
96 words
A system of processing communications, comprising: a machine having electromechanical sensors for generating messages and transmitting the messages to a data center; a firewall device; a security device; a network connecting the machine, the firewall device, the security device, and the data center; means, disposed in the machine, for creating a message containing information of the machine to be transmitted to the data center; means for transmitting the message from the machine to a firewall device; means for transmitting the message to a security device; and means, disposed within the security device, for analyzing the message.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
96 words
A system of processing communications, comprising: a machine having electromechanical sensors for generating messages and transmitting the messages to a data center; a firewall device; a security device; a network connecting the machine, the firewall device, the security device, and the data center; means, disposed in the machine, for creating a message containing information of the machine to be transmitted to the data center; means for transmitting the message from the machine to a firewall device; means for transmitting the message to a security device; and means, disposed within the security device, for analyzing the message.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 30, wherein the means for transmitting the message to the security device comprises: means for forwarding the message received by the firewall device to the security device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 30, further comprising: means for performing a security action when the means for analyzing determines that the message is not an authorized message.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 30, wherein the means for performing a security action comprises: means for prohibiting the message from passing through the firewall.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 30, wherein the means for performing a security action comprises: means for prohibiting future messages from passing through the firewall.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system according to claim 30, further comprising: means for encrypting the message to be transmitted to the firewall device; and means for decrypting, within the security device, the encrypted message received from the firewall device.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system according to claim 30, further comprising: means for logging messages into a log which are outgoing through the firewall device, wherein the means for analyzing comprises: means for comparing messages received at the security device with the log of the messages outgoing through the firewall device.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
71 words
A system according to claim 36, further comprising: means for outputting a warning indicating that one of the messages sent to the security device does not match a corresponding one of the messages outgoing through the firewall device, when the means for comparing messages received at the security device determines that one of the messages outgoing through the firewall device does not match the corresponding message received by the security device.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 30, wherein: the means for transmitting the message to the security device transmits the message to the security device which is part of the firewall device.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 30, wherein the means for creating a message comprises: means for creating the message to contain information received from the electro-mechanical sensors of the machine.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 39, wherein: the means for creating a message comprises creating the message to contain information received from the electromechanical sensors of the machine which is a business office device.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
82 words
A system according to claim 30, wherein the means for transmitting the message to the security device comprises: means for transmitting the message from the firewall device to the security device, said system further comprising: means for transmitting the message from the machine to the security device, wherein the means for analyzing comprises: means for comparing, by the security device, the message received by the security device from the machine with the message received by the security device from the firewall device.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
91 words
A system according to claim 41, further comprising: means for encrypting the message to be transmitted to the firewall device, before transmitting the message to the firewall device, wherein the means for transmitting the message from the firewall device to the security device comprises: means for transmitting the encrypted message, the system further comprising: means for decrypting, by the security device, the encrypted message received from the firewall device, wherein the means for comparing comprises: means for comparing the message received by the machine with the message which has been decrypted.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 42, wherein the means for transmitting the message from the machine to the security device comprises: means for transmitting the message in an unencrypted form.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 42, wherein the means for creating a message comprises: means for creating the message to contain information received from the electromechanical sensors of the machine.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system according to claim 44, wherein the means for creating a message comprises: means for creating the message to contain information received from the electromechanical sensors of the machine which is a business office device.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 41, further comprising: means for logging messages which are outgoing through the firewall device; and means for comparing messages received at the security device with messages transmitted through the firewall device which have been logged.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
71 words
A system according to claim 46, further comprising: means for outputting a warning indicating that one of the messages sent to the security device does not match a corresponding one of the messages outgoing through the firewall device, when the means for comparing messages received at the security device determines that one of the messages outgoing through the firewall device does not match the corresponding message received by the security device.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system according to claim 30, further comprising: means for creating a log of messages passing through the firewall device from machines, wherein the means for analyzing comprises: means for comparing, by the security device, messages received from the machine with the log of messages passing through the firewall device.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 48, further comprising: means for outputting a warning when one of the messages received from the machine does not correspond to the log of messages passing through the firewall device.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system according to claim 48, further comprising: means for prohibiting further messages from the machine from passing through the firewall device, when said one of the messages received from the machine is determined not to exist in the log of messages passing through the firewall device by the means for comparing.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 48, wherein the means for creating a message comprises: means for creating the message to contain information received from the electromechanical sensors of the machine.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system according to claim 51, wherein the means for creating a message comprises: means for creating the message to contain information received from the electromechanical sensors of the machine which is a business office device.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
98 words
A system according to claim 30, further comprising: means for encrypting the message, before the message is transmitted to the firewall device and transmitted to the security device, wherein the means for transmitting to the firewall device comprises means for transmitting the encrypted message to the firewall device, wherein the means for transmitting to the security device comprises means for transmitting the encrypted message to the firewall device, the system further comprising: means for decrypting the message by the security device, wherein the means for analyzing comprises means for analyzing contents of the message which has been decrypted.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 53, further comprising: means for decoding the decrypted message, wherein the means for analyzing comprises: means for analyzing the contents of the messages which have been decrypted and decoded.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 53, wherein the means for analyzing comprises: means for determining if the contents of the message are from a machine which is permitted to communicate with the data center.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 53, wherein the means for analyzing comprises: means for determining if the contents of the message contain only information which is authorized to be transmitted to the data center.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 53, wherein the means for creating a message comprises: means for creating the message to contain information received from the electromechanical sensors of the machine.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system according to claim 57, wherein the means for creating a message comprises: means for creating the message to contain information received from the electromechanical sensors of the machine which is a business office device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-05-31 | 2002-11-30 | 2003-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-31 | 2006-11-30 | 2007-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-31 | 2010-11-30 | 2011-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |