Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer-to-computer data addressing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-16
2003-03-11
Le, N. (Department: 2858)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer-to-computer data addressing
C709S229000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06532496
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an information processing system such as a complex machine and more particularly to an information processing system made up of a plurality of hardware modules.
Hitherto, an art for transmitting fault information in an information processing system by facsimile has been known as disclosed in JP-A-5-167714. The art provides the merit of saving the user the trouble of calling a maintenance center when a fault occurs in the information processing system. Moreover, a maintenance person can previously determine the cause of the fault as compared with the case where the maintenance person goes to the field and collects the fault information, thus the maintenance person can provide necessary parts required for maintenance before he or she goes to the field; prompt maintenance work is enabled.
However, the art uses facsimile communication and thus has a disadvantage in that reliable transmission cannot be executed if the communication line is busy. Since a protocol for transmitting and receiving binary data that can be processed by the information processing system is not standardized for facsimile communication, it is difficult to transmit and receive maintenance information as binary data.
An art for transmitting fault information in an information processing system by electronic mail has also been known as disclosed in JP-A-8-286990. According to the art, sent electronic mail is stored in a mail server, thus the disadvantage in that information cannot be transmitted because the line is busy as in use of facsimile transmission described above is not involved in the art. A technique of adding binary data that can be processed by information processing systems to electronic mail like MIME (multipurpose Internet mail extensions) is in widespread use and it is easy to transfer such data by electronic mail.
An information processing system having complex functions such as a complex machine is made up of a plurality of hardware modules. Such an information processing system in a related art takes an internal configuration as shown in FIG.
22
. That is, as shown here, the information processing system gets machine information from a hardware module having no network interface (module B) and converts the machine information into an electronic mail format and transmits the resultant information by a hardware module having a network interface (module A).
Thus, at the time of developing the module A, it is necessary to make it possible to process the machine information gotten from the module B in the format thereof. Therefore, the design period and the development period of the module A are prolonged. To extend the function of the module B, the function of the module A need to be changed.
An information processing system which receives electronic mail and performs various types of processing is also possible. For example, it is possible that software or a software patch is received and the software of the information processing system is updated in response to the received software or software patch. Hitherto, such an information processing system has needed to take an internal configuration as shown in FIG.
23
. That is, as shown here, the information processing system receives electronic mail at a hardware module having a network interface (module A) and converts information contained in the electronic mail into a format in which the information can be transferred between modules and passes the resultant information to a hardware module having no network interface (module B).
Thus, as in the above-described information processing system, at the time of developing the module A, it is necessary to make it possible to convert information into the format of data supplied to the module B. Therefore, the design period and the development period of the module A are prolonged. To extend the function of the module B, the function of the module A need to be changed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an information processing system made up of a plurality of hardware modules for transmitting machine information by electronic mail, wherein it is made possible to develop a hardware module having a network interface without considering the contents or format of machine information gotten from a hardware module having no network interface.
It is another object of the invention to provide an information processing system made up of a plurality of hardware modules for transmitting machine information by electronic mail, wherein it is made possible to extend the function of a hardware module having no network interface without extending the function of a hardware module having a network interface.
It is another object of the invention to provide an information processing system made up of a plurality of hardware modules for receiving data by electronic mail, wherein it is made possible to develop a hardware module having a network interface without considering the contents or format of data supplied to a hardware module having no network interface.
It is another object of the invention to provide an information processing system made up of a plurality of hardware modules for receiving data by electronic mail, wherein it is made possible to extend the function of a hardware module having no network interface without extending the function of a hardware module having a network interface.
To these ends, according to aspect 1, there is provided an information processing system comprising:
a first module;
a second module being connected to an external system via a network, the second modules being connected with the first module, wherein
the first module comprises:
preparation means for preparing information on the first module to be transmitted to the external system in a format in which the external system recognizes the information; and
first transmission means for transmitting the module information on the first module prepared by the preparation means and a request for transferring the information to the external system to the second module, and
the second module comprises:
first transfer means for transferring the module information transmitted by the first transmission means to the external system in accordance with the transfer request.
The Network Includes the Telephone
In the invention, an electronic mail transmission request issued from the electronic mail transmission request means is sent through the communication means (first transmission means) to the electronic mail transmission means (first transmission means). That is, the electronic mail transmission request in a format common to the hardware modules is sent from the electronic mail transmission request means in the hardware module not connected to the network through the communication means to the electronic mail transmission means and is transmitted from the electronic mail transmission means to the network.
In the invention according to aspect 2, there is provided the information processing system as in aspect 1, wherein
the second module further comprises:
second transmission means for transmitting address information indicating an address of the first transfer means to the first module, and
the first module further comprises:
first reception means for receiving the address information transmitted by the second transmission means; and
first storage means for storing the address information received by the first reception means, and wherein
the first transmission means transmits the information on the first module and a request for transferring the information to the external system to the address indicated by the address information stored in the first storage means.
In the invention, the electronic mail transmission request destination is sent from the electronic mail transmission request destination notification means (second transmission means) installed in the hardware module having the electronic mail transmission means to a different module, which then receives the electronic mail transmission request destination at the electronic mai
Benson Walter
Fuji 'Xerox Co., Ltd.
Le N.
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
LandOfFree
Information processing system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Information processing system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Information processing system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3043447