Claims
- 1. A method of processing messages, comprising the steps of:
transmitting a first electronic message by a first device; receiving the first electronic message by a first computer; determining whether the first electronic message which is received includes information regarding a first end user; and transmitting a first communication from the first computer to the first end user, when it is determined that the first electronic message includes information regarding the first end user.
- 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first computer comprises at least one of a service center computer and a resource administrator computer.
- 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
receiving the first electronic message by a second computer, wherein each one of the first computer and the second computer comprises at least one of a service center computer and a resource administrator computer.
- 4. The method according claim 1, wherein the first electronic message comprises at least one of an electronic mail message and a connection-mode message, and wherein the first communication comprises at least one of an electronic mail message and a connection-mode message.
- 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
transmitting a second electronic message by a second device; receiving the second electronic message by the first computer; determining whether the second electronic message which is received includes information regarding the first end user; and transmitting a second communication from the first computer to the first end user, when it is determined that the second electronic message includes information regarding the first end user.
- 6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
transmitting a third electronic message by the first device; receiving the third electronic message by the first computer; determining whether the third electronic message which is received includes information regarding a second end user; and transmitting a third communication from the first computer to the second end user, when it is determined that the third electronic message includes information regarding the second end user.
- 7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
transmitting a fourth communication from the first computer to a second computer, when it is determined that the first electronic message includes information regarding the first end user.
- 8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
determining whether to terminate access of the first end user to the first device based on the information regarding the first end user; and terminating access of the first end user to the first device when it is determined to terminate access of the first end user to the first device.
- 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first electronic message comprises:
information indicating usage of the first device.
- 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of determining comprises:
determining whether the first electronic message which is received includes information indicating a level of usage of the first device by the first end user which is greater than a predetermined usage limit value; and terminating access of the first end user to the first device when it is determined that the first electronic message which is received includes information indicating a level of usage of the first device by the first end user which is greater than a predetermined usage limit value.
- 11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of:
generating, by the first computer, summary information indicating usage of the first device by the first end user, wherein the first communication includes the summary information.
- 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of generating comprises:
generating, by the first computer, summary information indicating a level of usage of the first device by the first end user based on a predetermined threshold value, wherein the communication includes the summary information.
- 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of generating comprises:
generating, by the first computer, a warning message indicating at least one of
a level of usage of the first device by the first end user based on a predetermined limit value and a termination of access of the first end user to the device, wherein the first communication includes the warning message.
- 14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of generating comprises:
generating, by the first computer, summary information indicating at least one of hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly usage of the first device by the first end user, wherein the first communication includes the summary information.
- 15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of generating comprises:
generating, by the first computer, summary information indicating usage of the device by the first end user according to a predetermined usage report schedule, wherein the first communication includes the summary information.
- 16. A method of processing messages, comprising the steps of:
transmitting an electronic message by a device; receiving the electronic message by a computer; determining whether the message which is received includes information indicating an urgent need of an end user of the device.
- 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the information indicating an urgent need of the end user includes at least one of:
information indicating a usage of paper in excess of a predetermined page limit, and information indicating a usage of the device for a period of time exceeding a predetermined time limit.
- 18. A system comprising:
a first device configured to transmit a first electronic message from a first resource; and a first computer configured to receive the first electronic message, to determine whether the first electronic message which is received includes information regarding a first end user, and to transmit a first communication to the first end user.
- 19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the first computer comprises at least one of a service center computer and a resource administrator computer.
- 20. The system according to claim 18, further comprising:
a second computer configured to receive the first electronic message, wherein each one of the first computer and the second computer comprises at least one of a service center computer and a resource administrator computer.
- 21. The system according claim 18, wherein the first electronic message comprises at least one of an electronic mail message and a connection-mode message, and wherein the first communication comprises at least one of an electronic mail message and a connection-mode message.
- 22. The system according to claim 18, further comprising:
a second device configured to transmit a second electronic message from a second resource, wherein the first computer is configured to receive the second electronic message, to determine whether the second electronic message which is received includes information regarding the first end user, and to transmit a second communication to the first end user.
- 23. The system according to claim 18, wherein:
the first device is configured to transmit a third electronic message from the first resource, and the first computer is configured to receive the third electronic message, to determine whether the third electronic message includes information regarding a second end user, and to transmit a third communication to the second end user.
- 24. The system according to claim 18, wherein:
the first computer is configured to transmit a fourth communication to a second computer.
- 25. The system according to claim 18, wherein
the first computer is configured to determine whether to terminate access of the first end user to the first device based on the information regarding the first end user, and to terminate access of the first end user to the first device.
- 26. The system according to claim 18, wherein the first electronic message comprises:
information indicating usage of the first resource.
- 27. The system according to claim 26, wherein the first computer is configured to determine whether the first electronic message which is received includes information indicating a level of usage of the first resource by the first end user which is greater than a predetermined usage limit value, and to terminate access of the first end user to the first resource.
- 28. The system according to claim 26, wherein the first computer is configured to generate summary information indicating usage of the first resource by the first end user, wherein the first communication includes the summary information.
- 29. The system according to claim 28, wherein the first computer is configured to generate summary information indicating a level of usage of the first resource by the first end user based on a predetermined threshold value, wherein the communication includes the summary information.
- 30. The system according to claim 28, wherein the first computer is configured to generate a warning message indicating at least one of
a level of usage of the first device by the first end user based on a predetermined limit value and a termination of access of the first end user to the device, wherein the first communication includes the warning message.
- 31. The system according to claim 28, wherein the first computer is configured to generate summary information indicating at least one of hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly usage of the first resource by the first end user, wherein the first communication includes the summary information.
- 32. The system according to claim 28, wherein the first computer is configured to generate summary information indicating usage of the first resource by the first end user according to a predetermined usage report schedule, wherein the first communication includes the summary information.
- 33. A program product including a computer readable medium embodying program instructions for causing a system to perform the steps of:
transmitting a first electronic message by a first device; receiving the first electronic message by a first computer; determining whether the first electronic message which is received includes information regarding a first end user; and transmitting a first communication from the first computer to the first end user, when it is determined that the first electronic message includes information regarding the first end user.
- 34. The program product according to claim 33, wherein the first computer comprises at least one of a service center computer and a resource administrator computer.
- 35. The program product according to claim 33, wherein the computer readable medium embodies program instructions for causing the system to perform the step of:
receiving the first electronic message by a second computer, wherein each one of the first computer and the second computer comprises at least one of a service center computer and a resource administrator computer.
- 36. The program product according to claim 33, wherein the first electronic message comprises at least one of an electronic mail message and a connection-mode message, and wherein the first communication comprises at least one of an electronic mail message and a connection-mode message.
- 37. The program product according to claim 33, wherein the computer readable medium embodies program instructions for causing the system to perform the steps of:
transmitting a second electronic message by a second device; receiving the second electronic message by the first computer; determining whether the second electronic message which is received includes information regarding the first end user; and transmitting a second communication from the first computer to the first end user, when it is determined that the second electronic message includes information regarding the first end user.
- 38. The program product according to claim 33, wherein the computer readable medium embodies program instructions for causing the system to perform the steps of:
transmitting a third electronic message by the first device; receiving the third electronic message by the first computer; determining whether the third electronic message which is received includes information regarding a second end user; and transmitting a third communication from the first computer to the second end user, when it is determined that the third electronic message includes information regarding the second end user.
- 39. The program product according to claim 33, wherein the computer readable medium embodies program instructions for causing the system to perform the step of:
transmitting a fourth communication from the first computer to a second computer, when it is determined that the first electronic message includes information regarding the first end user.
- 40. The program product according to claim 33, wherein the computer readable medium embodies program instructions for causing the system to perform the steps of:
determining whether to terminate access of the first end user to the first device based on the information regarding the first end user; and terminating access of the first end user to the first device when it is determined to terminate access of the first end user to the first device.
- 41. The program product according to claim 33, wherein the first electronic message comprises:
information indicating usage of the first device.
- 42. The program product according to claim 41, wherein the step of determining comprises:
determining whether the first electronic message which is received includes information indicating a level of usage of the first device by the first end user which is greater than a predetermined usage limit value; and terminating access of the first end user to the first device when it is determined that the first electronic message which is received includes information indicating a level of usage of the first device by the first end user which is greater than a predetermined usage limit value.
- 43. The program product according to claim 41, wherein the computer readable medium embodies program instructions for causing the system to perform the step of:
generating, by the first computer, summary information indicating usage of the first device by the first end user, wherein the first communication includes the summary information.
- 44. The program product according to claim 43, wherein the step of generating comprises:
generating, by the first computer, summary information indicating a level of usage of the first device by the first end user based on a predetermined threshold value, wherein the communication includes the summary information.
- 45. The program product according to claim 43, wherein the step of generating comprises:
generating, by the first computer, a warning message indicating at least one of
a level of usage of the first device by the first end user based on a predetermined limit value and a termination of access of the first end user to the device, wherein the first communication includes the warning message.
- 46. The program product according to claim 43, wherein the step of generating comprises:
generating, by the first computer, summary information indicating at least one of hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly usage of the first device by the first end user, wherein the first communication includes the summary information.
- 47. The program product according to claim 43, wherein the step of generating comprises:
generating, by the first computer, summary information indicating usage of the device by the first end user according to a predetermined usage report schedule, wherein the first communication includes the summary information.
- 48. A program product including a computer readable medium embodying program instructions for causing a system to perform the steps of:
transmitting an electronic message by a device; receiving the electronic message by a computer; determining whether the message which is received includes information indicating an urgent need of an end user of the device.
- 49. The program product according to claim 48, wherein the information indicating an urgent need of the end user includes at least one of:
information indicating a usage of paper in excess of a predetermined page limit, and information indicating a usage of the device for a period of time exceeding a predetermined time limit.
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/311,148 filed May 13, 1999, entitled “Application Unit Monitoring and Reporting System and Method,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/192,583 filed Nov. 17, 1998 entitled “Method and System for Communicating with a Device Attached to a Computer Using Electronic Mail Messages,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/883,492 filed Jun. 26, 1997 entitled “Method and System for Diagnosis and Control of Machines Using Connectionless Modes Having Delivery Monitoring and an Alternate Communication Mode,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/820,633 filed Mar. 19, 1997 entitled “Method and System to Diagnose a Business Office Device Based on Operating Parameters Set by a User,” now U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,216, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/733,134 filed Oct. 16, 1996 entitled “Method and System for Diagnosis and Control of Machines Using Connectionless Modes of Communication,” now U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,493, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/880,683, filed Jun. 23, 1997, U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 09/107,989 and 09/108,705, both of which were filed Jul. 1, 1998, all three of which are entitled “Method and System for Controlling and Communicating with Machines Using Multiple Communication Formats,” and all three of which are divisions of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/624,228 filed Mar. 29, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,818,603, entitled “Method and System for Controlling and Communicating with Machines Using Multiple Communication Formats,” U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/738,659 and 08/738,461, both of which are entitled “Method and System for Diagnosis and Control of Machines Using Connection and Connectionless Modes of Communication,” filed Oct. 30, 1996, and are divisions of, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/916,009, entitled “Method and System for Diagnosis and Control of Machines Using Connection and Connectionless Modes of Communication,” filed Aug. 21, 1997, which is a continuation of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/463,002 filed Jun. 5, 1995, entitled “Method and System for Diagnosis and Control of Machines Using Connection and Connectionless Modes of Communication,” now U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,110, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/852,413 filed May 7, 1987, entitled “Method and System for Controlling and Communicating with Business Office Devices,” now U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,678, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/698,068 filed Aug. 15, 1996, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Controlling and Communicating With Business Office Devices,” now U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,120 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/562,192 filed Nov. 22, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,618, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/473,780 filed Jun. 6, 1995, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Controlling and Communicating With Business Office Devices,” now U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,289, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/426,679 filed Apr. 24, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,554, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Controlling and Communicating With Business Office Devices” which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/282,168 filed Jul. 28, 1994 and entitled “Method and Apparatus for Controlling and Communicating With Business Office Devices,” now U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,779, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/902,462 filed Jun. 19, 1992, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/549,278, filed Jul. 6, 1990, now abandoned, the disclosure of each is incorporated herein by reference.
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09407769 |
Sep 1999 |
US |
Child |
10423983 |
Apr 2003 |
US |