Patent US6003078A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6003078A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automatic service requests over the world wide web
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1996-11-15
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Granted: 1999-12-14
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Expires: 2016-11-15
Abstract
Abstract Status information concerning a condition of a network peripheral device connected to a network is automatically communicated to a remote service organization. First, a condition of the network peripheral device is detected. Then, in response to the detected condition, status information is automatically obtained, the status information corresponding to the detected condition. Finally, upon obtaining the status information, a packet is automatically transmitted to the remote service organization via the network, the packet containing the status information.
Inventors
- 👤 Marianne L. Kodimer
- 👤 Joohae Kim
- 👤 Dan Danknick
- 👤 Rakesh Mahajan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:06
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; G06F11/0748; G06F11/30; G06F11/32; G06F11/324; G06F11/328; G03G15/55; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00025; G03G2215/00109; G03G2215/00113; G06F11/22; G06F11/2294
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for communicating status information to a remote service organization from a network peripheral device connected to a network router, said method comprising: detecting a condition of the network peripheral device for which service is required; automatically obtaining status information in response to the detected condition, wherein obtaining the status information is conditioned on detection of the condition for which service is required and wherein the status information corresponds to the detected condition; and automatically transmitting, upon obtaining the status information, a network packet to the remote service organization via the network, the network packet containing the status information.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for communicating status information to a remote service organization from a network peripheral device connected to a network router, said method comprising: detecting a condition of the network peripheral device for which service is required; automatically obtaining status information in response to the detected condition, wherein obtaining the status information is conditioned on detection of the condition for which service is required and wherein the status information corresponds to the detected condition; and automatically transmitting, upon obtaining the status information, a network packet to the remote service organization via the network, the network packet containing the status information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the detected condition includes an operational problem.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the detected condition is related to a quantity of usage of the network peripheral device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the remote service organization comprises a technical support facility.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the remote service organization comprises a sales facility.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the network peripheral device comprises a copier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the packet includes an HTML file.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein the HTML file includes a hypertext link to retrieve a second page from the peripheral device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the network peripheral device is connected to a LAN, said method further comprising a step of automatically sending a message from the network peripheral device to a workstation connected to the LAN to indicate that the packet has been sent to the remote service organization.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the detected condition is set in accordance with a user input.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the network peripheral obtains the status information, and wherein the network peripheral transmits the network packet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
122 words
Computer-executable process steps stored in a computer-readable medium, the process steps to communicate status information to a remote service organization from a network peripheral device connected to a network router, said process steps comprising: a detecting step to detect a condition of the network peripheral device for which service is required; an obtaining step to obtain status information automatically in response to the detected condition, wherein obtaining the status information is conditioned on detection of the condition for which service is required and wherein the status information corresponds to the detected condition; and a transmitting step to transmit automatically, upon obtaining the status information, a network packet to the remote service organization via the network, the network packet containing the status information.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
122 words
Computer-executable process steps stored in a computer-readable medium, the process steps to communicate status information to a remote service organization from a network peripheral device connected to a network router, said process steps comprising: a detecting step to detect a condition of the network peripheral device for which service is required; an obtaining step to obtain status information automatically in response to the detected condition, wherein obtaining the status information is conditioned on detection of the condition for which service is required and wherein the status information corresponds to the detected condition; and a transmitting step to transmit automatically, upon obtaining the status information, a network packet to the remote service organization via the network, the network packet containing the status information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
Computer-executable process steps according to claim 12, wherein the detected condition includes an operational problem.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
Computer-executable process steps according to claim 12, wherein the detected condition is related to a quantity of usage of the network peripheral device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
Computer-executable process steps according to claim 12, wherein the remote service organization comprises a technical support facility.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
Computer-executable process steps according to claim 12, wherein the remote service organization comprises a sales facility.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
Computer-executable process steps according to claim 12, wherein the network peripheral device comprises a copier.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
Computer-executable process steps according to claim 12, wherein the packet includes an HTML file.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
Computer-executable process steps according to claim 18, wherein the HTML file includes a hypertext link to retrieve a second page from the peripheral device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
Computer-executable process steps according to claim 12, wherein said computer-executable process steps further comprise a sending step to send a message from the network peripheral device automatically to a workstation via a LAN connection to indicate that the packet has been sent to the remote service organization.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
Computer-executable process steps according to claim 1, wherein the detected condition is set in accordance with a user input.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
Computer-executable process steps according to claim 12, wherein the network peripheral obtains the status information, and wherein the network peripheral transmits the network packet.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
128 words
A peripheral device which automatically initiates communication of status information to a remote service organization via a network, said peripheral device comprising: a memory which stores process steps for execution by a processor; and a processor which executes the process steps stored in the memory (1) to detect a condition of the peripheral device for which service is required, (2) to obtain status information automatically in response to the detected condition, wherein obtaining the status information is conditioned on detection of the condition for which service is required and wherein the status information corresponds to the detected condition, and (3) to initiate transmission of a network packet to the remote service organization via the network automatically upon obtaining the status information, the network packet containing the status information.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
128 words
A peripheral device which automatically initiates communication of status information to a remote service organization via a network, said peripheral device comprising: a memory which stores process steps for execution by a processor; and a processor which executes the process steps stored in the memory (1) to detect a condition of the peripheral device for which service is required, (2) to obtain status information automatically in response to the detected condition, wherein obtaining the status information is conditioned on detection of the condition for which service is required and wherein the status information corresponds to the detected condition, and (3) to initiate transmission of a network packet to the remote service organization via the network automatically upon obtaining the status information, the network packet containing the status information.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
A peripheral device according to claim 23, wherein the detected condition includes an operational problem.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
A peripheral device according to claim 23, wherein the detected condition is related to a quantity of usage of the peripheral device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A peripheral device according to claim 23, wherein the remote service organization comprises a technical support facility.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
A peripheral device according to claim 23, wherein the remote service organization comprises a sales facility.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
A peripheral device according to claim 23, wherein the peripheral device comprises a copier.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
A peripheral device according to claim 23, wherein the packet includes an HTML file.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
A peripheral device according to claim 29, wherein the HTML file includes a hypertext link to retrieve a second page from the peripheral device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
57 words
A peripheral device according to claim 23, wherein said processor executes process steps stored in the memory to initiate sending a message from the peripheral device to a workstation connected to the LAN, the processor initiating the sending of the message automatically, and the message indicating that the packet has been sent to the remote service organization.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
A network peripheral device according to claim 1, wherein the detected condition is set in accordance with a user input.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
A peripheral device according to claim 23, wherein the network peripheral obtains the status information, and wherein the network peripheral transmits the network packet.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for communicating status information to a remote service organization from a network peripheral device connected to a network router, said method comprising: automatically obtaining status information for the network peripheral device, wherein the network peripheral device obtains the status information; and automatically transmitting, upon obtaining the status information, a network packet to the remote service organization via the network, the network packet containing the status information, wherein the network peripheral device transmits the network packet.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for communicating status information to a remote service organization from a network peripheral device connected to a network router, said method comprising: automatically obtaining status information for the network peripheral device, wherein the network peripheral device obtains the status information; and automatically transmitting, upon obtaining the status information, a network packet to the remote service organization via the network, the network packet containing the status information, wherein the network peripheral device transmits the network packet.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 34, further comprising the step of detecting a condition of the network peripheral device, wherein obtaining the status information is conditioned on detection of a condition for which service is required and wherein the status information corresponds to the detected condition.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
95 words
Computer executable process steps stored in a computer-readable medium, the process steps to communicate status information to a remote service organization from a network peripheral device connected to a network router, said process steps comprising: an obtaining step to obtain status information for the network peripheral device, wherein the network peripheral device obtains the status information; and a transmitting step to transmit automatically, upon obtaining the status information, a network packet to the remote service organization via the network, the network packet containing the status information, wherein the network peripheral device transmits the network packet.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
95 words
Computer executable process steps stored in a computer-readable medium, the process steps to communicate status information to a remote service organization from a network peripheral device connected to a network router, said process steps comprising: an obtaining step to obtain status information for the network peripheral device, wherein the network peripheral device obtains the status information; and a transmitting step to transmit automatically, upon obtaining the status information, a network packet to the remote service organization via the network, the network packet containing the status information, wherein the network peripheral device transmits the network packet.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
51 words
Computer-executable process steps according to claim 36, said process steps further comprising a detecting step to detect a condition of the network peripheral device, wherein obtaining the status information is conditioned on detection of a condition for which service is required and wherein the status information corresponds to the detected condition.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
85 words
A peripheral device which automatically initiates communication of status information to a remote service organization via a network, said peripheral device comprising: a memory which stores process steps for execution by a processor; and a processor which executes the process steps stored in the memory (1) to obtain status information automatically for the peripheral device, and (2) to initiate transmission of a network packet to the remote service organization via the network automatically upon obtaining the status information, the network packet containing the status information.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
85 words
A peripheral device which automatically initiates communication of status information to a remote service organization via a network, said peripheral device comprising: a memory which stores process steps for execution by a processor; and a processor which executes the process steps stored in the memory (1) to obtain status information automatically for the peripheral device, and (2) to initiate transmission of a network packet to the remote service organization via the network automatically upon obtaining the status information, the network packet containing the status information.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
54 words
A peripheral device according to claim 38, wherein the processor further executes the process steps stored in the memory to detect a condition of the peripheral device, wherein obtaining the status information is conditioned on detection of a condition for which service is required and wherein the status information corresponds to the detected condition.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-13 | 2003-06-14 | 2003-12-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-13 | 2007-06-14 | 2007-12-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-13 | 2011-06-14 | 2011-12-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |